John Vonderlin: 1905: Ocean Shore Railroad Work Begins on the South Coast

electrird

We’ve discussed what went on at the southern

coastal gateway to San Mateo through the years

a number of times, including the Ocean Shore rail-

road’s minor construction efforts and major plans at

that location.  This short little article from the June 3rd,

1905 issue of the San Francisco,”Call,” probably

is referring to the Alligator Rock  (Cape Horn) area

of the Waddell Bluffs. This might represent the

OSR’s highpoint, as it would seem to have pulled

one over on the Big Bully of the Block, as S.P.

(Southern Pacific Railroad) was then considered

by many.

Though it turned out to be a meaningless

victory in the end, my guess is the OSR pro-

moters puffed their chests out and spoke with

pride about this maneuver for the rest of 1905.

Enjoy. John

WORK ON ELECTRIC ROAD COMMENCED

MARCH IS STOLEN ON SOUTHERN PACIFIC

BY NEW LINE

SANTA CRUZ. June 2. — The long

looked-for commencement work, in the

construction of the Ocean Shore Railway,

the new electric line which is to be built

between this city and San Francisco, be

gan to-day. A gang of thirty-five men

was put to work grading around a high

point at Waddell Creek. There is room

for only one railroad around this point

and the one which comes last must tun-

nel the hill.

The Ocean Shore engineers stole a march

on the Southern Pacific which has de-

clared its intention to build a coast line.

This leaves the Southern Pacific the al-

ternative of running its line up Waddell

Creek to Big Basin and around the hill

to Pescadero.

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