The sunset from Windy Hill was spectacular (below, looking west). That's the sun reflecting off the ocean out there. A cold front moved in and a real stiff wind was blowing off the ocean. It was 44 degrees up there with some serious wind chill.
Posted on 02/21/2022 7:04:45 PM PST by thecodont
Picture it: A car-free trip to Santa Cruz, for an attractive fare, on a train that took you to the beach in the morning, back home that night, and showed you some great scenery along the way.
That describes the Sun Tan Special, operated by the Southern Pacific railroad between San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Cruz on summer weekends and holidays for most of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.
It was more than just a conveyance. “[It’s] a happy train, filled with people in a vacation mood,” says a 1940s Southern Pacific flyer. “It gives you six hours on the beach and there’s plenty of room.”
[...]
Disagreements over freight, a trail, costs, jurisdiction, traffic and the best way to help the environment create a complex territory for a train that was created for larky summer weekend fun at the beach.
But if the Sun Tan Special returns, that's the terrain it will have to travel.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I remember something like that back in the day, beaches, beer, boardwalk, roller coasters, twisty fun roads.
but that is all way in the past
Under state-run operation, no way would it be the same as even seventy years ago.
Happy Train?
Sounds a bit Gay....
Will they be able to keep the bums off the trains unlike BART?
Fleishhacker Pool-SF
Playland-sf
Ice Skating rink-SF
All neat the coast.
Only if they crack down on fare scofflaws and have a conductor or two on board to maintain order.
Then there might be complaints from aggrieved individuals who are the focus of the train employees who want to maintain a clean, orderly, and safe environment for the other passengers.
And I fear the "victims" will receive more airtime and press for their complaints, and the whole thing will go downhill from there.
A civil society is a precondition for safe public transit.
Might want to hire one or two plain clothes security agents in case a passenger gets rowdy. If this becomes a thing, hopefully by then, Masks will not be an issue.
The sunset from Windy Hill was spectacular (below, looking west). That's the sun reflecting off the ocean out there. A cold front moved in and a real stiff wind was blowing off the ocean. It was 44 degrees up there with some serious wind chill.
Short line inter urban rail was a widespread convenience all around the country until after WWII, when it was essentially destroyed by a concerted campaign by the lobbyists for rubber tires and cars and concrete road construction.
I took my girlfriend to Santa Cruz.
I found the Mystery Spot there.
I always thought the impetus for the Interstate Highway system, was Eisenhower’s experience seeing the German Autobahns and realizing that Interstates were a good way to move troops around.
I lost my 7’6” Hansen Mike Doyle ‘Flying Eagle’ model surfboard there at Steamer Lane in ‘72. Take about a bummer!
Did you ever surf sewer peak?
babes?
My girlfriend said: “Kiss me where it stinks”.
So, I took her to Milpitas.
My girlfriend said “I want to be a bad girl!”
So I took her to East Oakland.
My girlfriend Faith went to church, heard the pastor’s sermon.
She said I that I could move mountains if I have Faith.
So I moved ‘em up n down n sideways.
GM Truck and BUS contributed to IU rail’s demise.
Buses are still conceptually better than rail as they are less constrained to route.
A couple of segments of old interurban routes have been rebuilt in the Dallas area. About 20 miles from Denton to Carrolton, and a 40+ mile route from Fort Worth to Dallas. The Plano - Richardson - Dallas segment was re-built as light rail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.