Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line: Difference between revisions
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*'''2025'''. Roaring Camp holds an option to provide freight service from Watsonville to Pajaro, but it's unclear whether any trains are actually operating there. | *'''2025'''. Roaring Camp holds an option to provide freight service from Watsonville to Pajaro, but it's unclear whether any trains are actually operating there. | ||
For a more complete history of this rail | For a more complete history of this and other area rail lines, see [https://www.santacruztrains.com/2019/04/railroads-southern-pacific-branch-lines.html Santa Cruz Branch Line] at Santa Cruz Trains.com. | ||
[[Category:Transportation]] | [[Category:Transportation]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:39, 4 July 2025
The Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line was added to the regional Southern Pacific rail system in 1881 when SP acquired the bankrupt narrow-gauge Santa Cruz Railroad (SCR) in 1881. Timeline:
- 1871. Southern Pacific built a branch line to Pajaro, just across the Monterey County line from Watsonville.
- 1872. SP extended that line to Salinas.
- 1875. The narrow-gauge Santa Cruz Railroad line was completed, ending at Pajaro and creating a junction where freight and passengers could change between narrow-gauge and standard-gauge trains. After acquiring the *1883. SP converted the SCR line to standard-gauge tracks, allowing SP trains to directly access Santa Cruz County from Pajaro Station.
- 1912. SP renamed Pajaro Junction to Watsonville Junction.
- 1940. The Santa Clara & Santa Cruz Branch rail line was shut down, and SP annexed 8 miles of its track, from Santa Cruz past Felton to Olympia.
- 1940s. SP shut down passenger service to Santa Cruz in the late 1940s.
- 1985. Roaring Camp bought the Santa Cruz-to-Olympia line from SP. SP then annexed the 11-mile Davenport Branch, completing the final 32-mile-long configuration of the Santa Cruz Branch Line.
- 1980s. SP ended regular freight service to Santa Cruz.
- 1996. SP merged with Union Pacific (UP).
- 2010. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) bought the Santa Cruz Branch Line from UP in 2010. The California Transportation Commission approved the purchase in 2011 and, in 2012, the RTC completed the first of several unsuccessful contracts with outside rail companies to provide freight and (and potential passenger) service.
- 2012-2025. The Santa Cruz County Coastal Rail Trail uses the Santa Cruz Branch Line, and construction continues on the bike/pedestrian path adjacent to the rails.
- 2025. Roaring Camp holds an option to provide freight service from Watsonville to Pajaro, but it's unclear whether any trains are actually operating there.
For a more complete history of this and other area rail lines, see Santa Cruz Branch Line at Santa Cruz Trains.com.