Cambridge H. Lutèce
@camlutece.bsky.social
Your friendly neighborhood Bay Area trolley guy! Amateur transit historian, freelance journalist, and Western Railway Museum docent & social media manager.
A steam engine hauling old interurbans? What's the context?
In April of 1941, railfans chartered a Northwestern Pacific (NWP) train to tour the thriving Petaluma & Santa Rosa RR. Since NWP abandoned its electric commuter lines two months prior, spare interurban cars formed the excursion consist!
In April of 1941, railfans chartered a Northwestern Pacific (NWP) train to tour the thriving Petaluma & Santa Rosa RR. Since NWP abandoned its electric commuter lines two months prior, spare interurban cars formed the excursion consist!
February 3, 2026 at 5:52 PM
A steam engine hauling old interurbans? What's the context?
In April of 1941, railfans chartered a Northwestern Pacific (NWP) train to tour the thriving Petaluma & Santa Rosa RR. Since NWP abandoned its electric commuter lines two months prior, spare interurban cars formed the excursion consist!
In April of 1941, railfans chartered a Northwestern Pacific (NWP) train to tour the thriving Petaluma & Santa Rosa RR. Since NWP abandoned its electric commuter lines two months prior, spare interurban cars formed the excursion consist!
Ebay yields wild sales — like this advertisement for a railway that never came to be!
Founded in 1906, Monterey, Fresno & Eastern aimed to build an interurban railway to Goldfield, NV! Backed by the Ocean Shore RR, the railroad surrendered to the Panic of 1907 and never left initial fundraising.
Founded in 1906, Monterey, Fresno & Eastern aimed to build an interurban railway to Goldfield, NV! Backed by the Ocean Shore RR, the railroad surrendered to the Panic of 1907 and never left initial fundraising.
February 3, 2026 at 4:25 AM
Ebay yields wild sales — like this advertisement for a railway that never came to be!
Founded in 1906, Monterey, Fresno & Eastern aimed to build an interurban railway to Goldfield, NV! Backed by the Ocean Shore RR, the railroad surrendered to the Panic of 1907 and never left initial fundraising.
Founded in 1906, Monterey, Fresno & Eastern aimed to build an interurban railway to Goldfield, NV! Backed by the Ocean Shore RR, the railroad surrendered to the Panic of 1907 and never left initial fundraising.
Turning from International Blvd, a midday Key System A-line train enters 1st Ave, heading through Oakland to SF.
From 1941 to 1950, A-Line trains ran all the way to Havenscourt in East Oakland! This was cut back to 12th & Oak St. following reconstruction of the 12th St. Dam into a partial freeway.
From 1941 to 1950, A-Line trains ran all the way to Havenscourt in East Oakland! This was cut back to 12th & Oak St. following reconstruction of the 12th St. Dam into a partial freeway.
February 2, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Turning from International Blvd, a midday Key System A-line train enters 1st Ave, heading through Oakland to SF.
From 1941 to 1950, A-Line trains ran all the way to Havenscourt in East Oakland! This was cut back to 12th & Oak St. following reconstruction of the 12th St. Dam into a partial freeway.
From 1941 to 1950, A-Line trains ran all the way to Havenscourt in East Oakland! This was cut back to 12th & Oak St. following reconstruction of the 12th St. Dam into a partial freeway.
Though the wacky Yosemite Short Line (YSL) was cut short in 1906, its equipment ended up working a bit longer... and nearby!
In Sonora, the YSL's promoters built the Empire City Ry. Linking two mills with the Sugar Pine Ry, the railroad (evidently) used ex-YSL equipment until shut down in 1913.
In Sonora, the YSL's promoters built the Empire City Ry. Linking two mills with the Sugar Pine Ry, the railroad (evidently) used ex-YSL equipment until shut down in 1913.
February 1, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Though the wacky Yosemite Short Line (YSL) was cut short in 1906, its equipment ended up working a bit longer... and nearby!
In Sonora, the YSL's promoters built the Empire City Ry. Linking two mills with the Sugar Pine Ry, the railroad (evidently) used ex-YSL equipment until shut down in 1913.
In Sonora, the YSL's promoters built the Empire City Ry. Linking two mills with the Sugar Pine Ry, the railroad (evidently) used ex-YSL equipment until shut down in 1913.
If this city was affordable I would be living here by now
February 1, 2026 at 2:26 AM
If this city was affordable I would be living here by now
Many narrow gauge railroads into Yosemite were proposed. None were as weird as the Yosemite Short Line.
In 1905, the 2'6" gauge YSL built 8.5 miles of twisting track out of Jackson, featuring steep grades and 70 degree turns! Construction stopped after the 1906 Earthquake, and was never resumed.
In 1905, the 2'6" gauge YSL built 8.5 miles of twisting track out of Jackson, featuring steep grades and 70 degree turns! Construction stopped after the 1906 Earthquake, and was never resumed.
January 31, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Many narrow gauge railroads into Yosemite were proposed. None were as weird as the Yosemite Short Line.
In 1905, the 2'6" gauge YSL built 8.5 miles of twisting track out of Jackson, featuring steep grades and 70 degree turns! Construction stopped after the 1906 Earthquake, and was never resumed.
In 1905, the 2'6" gauge YSL built 8.5 miles of twisting track out of Jackson, featuring steep grades and 70 degree turns! Construction stopped after the 1906 Earthquake, and was never resumed.
The devastating 1906 Earthquake left SF in ruins. To clear the debris, local railroads were put to work.
The upstart Ocean Shore RR, which terminated at 12th & Mission St, was key in clearing the inner city. Jobless residents found work in shoveling rubble onto waiting OSRR flatcars, as seen below.
The upstart Ocean Shore RR, which terminated at 12th & Mission St, was key in clearing the inner city. Jobless residents found work in shoveling rubble onto waiting OSRR flatcars, as seen below.
January 30, 2026 at 9:24 PM
The devastating 1906 Earthquake left SF in ruins. To clear the debris, local railroads were put to work.
The upstart Ocean Shore RR, which terminated at 12th & Mission St, was key in clearing the inner city. Jobless residents found work in shoveling rubble onto waiting OSRR flatcars, as seen below.
The upstart Ocean Shore RR, which terminated at 12th & Mission St, was key in clearing the inner city. Jobless residents found work in shoveling rubble onto waiting OSRR flatcars, as seen below.
Reminder that until 1945 you could take a train to Yosemite!
From sleepy Merced, the Yosemite Valley RR swept passengers on a winding route through the scenic foothills, delivering tourists straight to El Portal!
No doubt, such a train would be well used, given Yosemite's typical grueling traffic.
From sleepy Merced, the Yosemite Valley RR swept passengers on a winding route through the scenic foothills, delivering tourists straight to El Portal!
No doubt, such a train would be well used, given Yosemite's typical grueling traffic.
January 30, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Reminder that until 1945 you could take a train to Yosemite!
From sleepy Merced, the Yosemite Valley RR swept passengers on a winding route through the scenic foothills, delivering tourists straight to El Portal!
No doubt, such a train would be well used, given Yosemite's typical grueling traffic.
From sleepy Merced, the Yosemite Valley RR swept passengers on a winding route through the scenic foothills, delivering tourists straight to El Portal!
No doubt, such a train would be well used, given Yosemite's typical grueling traffic.
Stopped at 40th & San Pablo, the Key System's grand "City of Berkeley" offloads commuters in Emeryville, on route to Berkeley.
Red plush seats, wood paneling, and free water welcomed commuters on these ex-Sacramento Northern cars. No doubt, it was likely the best rush hour commute in the Bay Area!
Red plush seats, wood paneling, and free water welcomed commuters on these ex-Sacramento Northern cars. No doubt, it was likely the best rush hour commute in the Bay Area!
January 30, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Stopped at 40th & San Pablo, the Key System's grand "City of Berkeley" offloads commuters in Emeryville, on route to Berkeley.
Red plush seats, wood paneling, and free water welcomed commuters on these ex-Sacramento Northern cars. No doubt, it was likely the best rush hour commute in the Bay Area!
Red plush seats, wood paneling, and free water welcomed commuters on these ex-Sacramento Northern cars. No doubt, it was likely the best rush hour commute in the Bay Area!
Concord made history when on Feb. 13, 1911 the first interurban rolled into town!
Hundreds gathered to witness this test run by the fledgling Oakland & Antioch Ry. Existing from 1909-1911, the short lived O&A linked Lafayette and Port Chicago, eventually becoming the famous Sacramento Northern Ry.
Hundreds gathered to witness this test run by the fledgling Oakland & Antioch Ry. Existing from 1909-1911, the short lived O&A linked Lafayette and Port Chicago, eventually becoming the famous Sacramento Northern Ry.
January 30, 2026 at 3:53 AM
Concord made history when on Feb. 13, 1911 the first interurban rolled into town!
Hundreds gathered to witness this test run by the fledgling Oakland & Antioch Ry. Existing from 1909-1911, the short lived O&A linked Lafayette and Port Chicago, eventually becoming the famous Sacramento Northern Ry.
Hundreds gathered to witness this test run by the fledgling Oakland & Antioch Ry. Existing from 1909-1911, the short lived O&A linked Lafayette and Port Chicago, eventually becoming the famous Sacramento Northern Ry.
*electric railway
forgive me for the spelling error
forgive me for the spelling error
In the early 1900s, an Oakland to San Jose electric was almost reality!
Fat on capital, the "San Jose Shortline" owned extensive right of way in Oakland. However, it never laid a single rail! Sections of property were later repurposed for local transit, such as here on the Key System's C-Line.
Fat on capital, the "San Jose Shortline" owned extensive right of way in Oakland. However, it never laid a single rail! Sections of property were later repurposed for local transit, such as here on the Key System's C-Line.
January 21, 2026 at 5:26 AM
*electric railway
forgive me for the spelling error
forgive me for the spelling error
In the early 1900s, an Oakland to San Jose electric was almost reality!
Fat on capital, the "San Jose Shortline" owned extensive right of way in Oakland. However, it never laid a single rail! Sections of property were later repurposed for local transit, such as here on the Key System's C-Line.
Fat on capital, the "San Jose Shortline" owned extensive right of way in Oakland. However, it never laid a single rail! Sections of property were later repurposed for local transit, such as here on the Key System's C-Line.
January 21, 2026 at 12:26 AM
In the early 1900s, an Oakland to San Jose electric was almost reality!
Fat on capital, the "San Jose Shortline" owned extensive right of way in Oakland. However, it never laid a single rail! Sections of property were later repurposed for local transit, such as here on the Key System's C-Line.
Fat on capital, the "San Jose Shortline" owned extensive right of way in Oakland. However, it never laid a single rail! Sections of property were later repurposed for local transit, such as here on the Key System's C-Line.
Around Point Reyes on 35mm film 🎞
January 19, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Around Point Reyes on 35mm film 🎞
Half Moon Bay on film 🎞
January 18, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Half Moon Bay on film 🎞
Running out of time in Niles, CA.
🎞 Kodak Gold 200
📷 1940s Argus C3
🎞 Kodak Gold 200
📷 1940s Argus C3
January 16, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Running out of time in Niles, CA.
🎞 Kodak Gold 200
📷 1940s Argus C3
🎞 Kodak Gold 200
📷 1940s Argus C3
Seeing AI slop in an antique store is depressing
January 15, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Seeing AI slop in an antique store is depressing
Finished up another poster for the WRM. Here's my entire series!
Hoping to print and sell these in our gift shop one day. For now, they make good brochures! (There is a blank version of the IER "Red Train" for those interested.)
Hoping to print and sell these in our gift shop one day. For now, they make good brochures! (There is a blank version of the IER "Red Train" for those interested.)
January 13, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Finished up another poster for the WRM. Here's my entire series!
Hoping to print and sell these in our gift shop one day. For now, they make good brochures! (There is a blank version of the IER "Red Train" for those interested.)
Hoping to print and sell these in our gift shop one day. For now, they make good brochures! (There is a blank version of the IER "Red Train" for those interested.)
Facebook Marketplace yields wild sales. Take for example: this interurban!
For only $40K, you can buy this lovely interurban from Estacada, OR. Looks like an old Portland Railway, Light & Power car, however @pdx-streetcars.bsky.social can better verify that.
Link: www.facebook.com/marketplace/...
For only $40K, you can buy this lovely interurban from Estacada, OR. Looks like an old Portland Railway, Light & Power car, however @pdx-streetcars.bsky.social can better verify that.
Link: www.facebook.com/marketplace/...
January 13, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Facebook Marketplace yields wild sales. Take for example: this interurban!
For only $40K, you can buy this lovely interurban from Estacada, OR. Looks like an old Portland Railway, Light & Power car, however @pdx-streetcars.bsky.social can better verify that.
Link: www.facebook.com/marketplace/...
For only $40K, you can buy this lovely interurban from Estacada, OR. Looks like an old Portland Railway, Light & Power car, however @pdx-streetcars.bsky.social can better verify that.
Link: www.facebook.com/marketplace/...
Coastal art deco is strong here in Half Moon Bay.
January 12, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Coastal art deco is strong here in Half Moon Bay.
40 years of service and they still haven't figured out how to make the 30R run on time
January 11, 2026 at 5:13 AM
40 years of service and they still haven't figured out how to make the 30R run on time
There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see.
🎞 Flic Film 620
📷 1948 Kodak Flash Six-Twenty
🎞 Flic Film 620
📷 1948 Kodak Flash Six-Twenty
January 8, 2026 at 4:34 AM
There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see.
🎞 Flic Film 620
📷 1948 Kodak Flash Six-Twenty
🎞 Flic Film 620
📷 1948 Kodak Flash Six-Twenty
how does it take the bus 3 HOURS to run from merced to yosemite when by car it takes 1.5 hours
January 3, 2026 at 6:06 AM
how does it take the bus 3 HOURS to run from merced to yosemite when by car it takes 1.5 hours
On August 15th, 1914, Muni opened the "H" streetcar line!
Before the BRT, H-line streetcars rumbled down Van Ness on a crosstown route between Fort Mason and the Mission. City Engineer O'Shaughnessy
(centre) and Mayor Rolph (flower lapel and bowler hat) were present on opening day!
Before the BRT, H-line streetcars rumbled down Van Ness on a crosstown route between Fort Mason and the Mission. City Engineer O'Shaughnessy
(centre) and Mayor Rolph (flower lapel and bowler hat) were present on opening day!
December 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
On August 15th, 1914, Muni opened the "H" streetcar line!
Before the BRT, H-line streetcars rumbled down Van Ness on a crosstown route between Fort Mason and the Mission. City Engineer O'Shaughnessy
(centre) and Mayor Rolph (flower lapel and bowler hat) were present on opening day!
Before the BRT, H-line streetcars rumbled down Van Ness on a crosstown route between Fort Mason and the Mission. City Engineer O'Shaughnessy
(centre) and Mayor Rolph (flower lapel and bowler hat) were present on opening day!
We are so back.
December 28, 2025 at 2:31 AM
We are so back.
Quiet in town, some more than others.
📷 1940s Argus C3
🎞 Kodacolor 200
📷 1940s Argus C3
🎞 Kodacolor 200
December 27, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Quiet in town, some more than others.
📷 1940s Argus C3
🎞 Kodacolor 200
📷 1940s Argus C3
🎞 Kodacolor 200