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.
If I understand correctly, this is why the New York Museum of Transportation is so intertwined with the Rochester & Genesee Valley RR. The R&GV basically supplies the NYMT with the visitors and critical funds that the state neglects to give.
December 4, 2025 at 5:35 AM
If I understand correctly, this is why the New York Museum of Transportation is so intertwined with the Rochester & Genesee Valley RR. The R&GV basically supplies the NYMT with the visitors and critical funds that the state neglects to give.
@pdx-streetcars.bsky.social Some Red Electrics did end up down here! I don't know when they were sent back, if ever.
December 4, 2025 at 1:55 AM
@pdx-streetcars.bsky.social Some Red Electrics did end up down here! I don't know when they were sent back, if ever.
The photo above depicts one of the Red Electrics, trailer #470, being compared to a Red Train at the Oakland Mole Yard.
Three cars were put on public display at 14th & Franklin St, the site of a shabby Victorian station that the city wanted demolished. SP kept delaying, hence the city veto.
Three cars were put on public display at 14th & Franklin St, the site of a shabby Victorian station that the city wanted demolished. SP kept delaying, hence the city veto.
December 4, 2025 at 1:55 AM
The photo above depicts one of the Red Electrics, trailer #470, being compared to a Red Train at the Oakland Mole Yard.
Three cars were put on public display at 14th & Franklin St, the site of a shabby Victorian station that the city wanted demolished. SP kept delaying, hence the city veto.
Three cars were put on public display at 14th & Franklin St, the site of a shabby Victorian station that the city wanted demolished. SP kept delaying, hence the city veto.
Nope. The IER's portholes were based off the Red Electrics. They were implemented to reinforce the roof, which sagged when the cars had huge rectangular windows. SP made the windows larger for visibility in dense fog.
Supposedly it was also for longer distance runs too.
Supposedly it was also for longer distance runs too.
December 4, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Nope. The IER's portholes were based off the Red Electrics. They were implemented to reinforce the roof, which sagged when the cars had huge rectangular windows. SP made the windows larger for visibility in dense fog.
Supposedly it was also for longer distance runs too.
Supposedly it was also for longer distance runs too.
Photo Credits / Sources: digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/21075...
"Red Trains in the East Bay" by Roger S. Ford
"Red Trains in the East Bay" by Roger S. Ford
[Electric train at station. Southern Pacific Lines.]
digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu
December 3, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Photo Credits / Sources: digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/21075...
"Red Trains in the East Bay" by Roger S. Ford
"Red Trains in the East Bay" by Roger S. Ford
Photo Credits: digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/20928...
[Engine No. 3504. Southern Pacific Railroad.]
digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu
December 3, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Photo Credits: digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/20928...
Facebook Marketplace has never failed me for finding obscure eccentric stuff.
December 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Facebook Marketplace has never failed me for finding obscure eccentric stuff.
True. Vallejo also had a proposed local streetcar system that never got built.
December 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
True. Vallejo also had a proposed local streetcar system that never got built.
Interesting. I wonder how popular the branch was compared to the Red Electric's direct route to Portland.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
December 2, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Interesting. I wonder how popular the branch was compared to the Red Electric's direct route to Portland.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
Surely there is an alternate universe where the Transcontinental Street Railway Co. really did go transcontinental... 😔 A better world, surely.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Surely there is an alternate universe where the Transcontinental Street Railway Co. really did go transcontinental... 😔 A better world, surely.
Photo Credits: hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
Napa County Historical Society - Depot Station
Black and white photograph of train approaching the Napa Valley Railroad Depot Station. Some passengers at the station wait to board the train. Back of photograph states: "No. 13N V.B + N.V.R.R Depo...
hub.catalogit.app
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Photo Credits: hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
It is, of course, my duty to inform the public that the Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR never actually went Benicia.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
It is, of course, my duty to inform the public that the Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR never actually went Benicia.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
Although preliminary work began earlier, construction of Napa's interurban station started around April 24th, 1905.
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Although preliminary work began earlier, construction of Napa's interurban station started around April 24th, 1905.
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
When was the Corvallis Branch abandoned? How was it operated (shuttle connecting to the regular trains)?
December 2, 2025 at 4:32 AM
When was the Corvallis Branch abandoned? How was it operated (shuttle connecting to the regular trains)?
GO's success, rebranding, and rider-oriented philosophy is the complete antithesis to everything my local commuter rail (ACE) is.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
December 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
GO's success, rebranding, and rider-oriented philosophy is the complete antithesis to everything my local commuter rail (ACE) is.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
Would be nice to see the original San Jose Railroads cars brought out, but I remember hearing their trolley poles aren't kind to the catenary.
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
December 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Would be nice to see the original San Jose Railroads cars brought out, but I remember hearing their trolley poles aren't kind to the catenary.
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
Photo Credits: eastbayhillsproject.org/gallery/piec...
Piecing Together Colusa in the Sacramento Northern Electric Era - East Bay Hills Project
eastbayhillsproject.org
December 1, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Photo Credits: eastbayhillsproject.org/gallery/piec...
I'll search our archives at WRM next weekends for photos. One of my first tasks ever at the museum was organising the OERY drawer... I'm sure there's a photo of it somewhere in there.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I'll search our archives at WRM next weekends for photos. One of my first tasks ever at the museum was organising the OERY drawer... I'm sure there's a photo of it somewhere in there.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
Is there a photo of this fabled Eastern Sacajawea
November 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Is there a photo of this fabled Eastern Sacajawea
I mean. It's not like the rest of County Connection's fleet look like they're particularly "modern..."
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I mean. It's not like the rest of County Connection's fleet look like they're particularly "modern..."
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.