1898-1992: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
33-789: 1992-1998: Tulare Valley Railroad Tulare County, California The Visalia District was a railway line in California's San Joaquin Valley that ran from Corcoran, California to Calwa, California . The line was originally built by the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad and later acquired by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . Construction began in 1897, with rails laid from Calwa to Visalia. Passenger service began on September 10, 1897. Subsequently,
66-427: A combine . The term has been used interchangeably with jitney . The name is said to have derived from the insect-like appearance of the units, as well as the slow speeds at which they would doddle or "doodle" down the tracks. Early models were usually powered by a gasoline engine, with either a mechanical drive train or a generator providing electricity to traction motors ("gas-electrics"). In later years, it
99-734: A connection with the SP/VE Visalia Branch) and Avenue 256 (Loma). Loma is the location of the last remaining rail shipper between Calwa and Corcoran. Under SJVR ownership it is called the Loma Industrial Lead. As of 2021, Loma is still listed on the SJVR map, although the connector track is out of service. The segment of line between Visalia and Cutler was not used by the TVRR and was removed by December 1994. The segment between Cutler, MP 38.5, and Reedley, MP 49.8, as well as
132-440: A cost-cutting effort. The development of gasoline engines led railroads to seek them as higher efficiency alternatives to steam power for low-volume branch line services at the start of the 20th century. The McKeen railmotor was a line of self-propelled gasoline-powered railcars produced between 1905 and 1917. The 200-horsepower (150 kW) engine on the 55-or-70-foot-long (17 or 21 m) units drove only one set of wheels, and
165-592: A few years later. On May 12, 1992, the Santa Fe ran an Operation Lifesaver special from Calwa to Porterville and return, including a portion of the Visalia District. The train ran from Calwa to Cutler and then Visalia, where the motive power ran around the train for the return to Cutler. SJVR GP9 1754, running on the former SP Visalia Branch, met the train in Visalia. Here, the power ran around again for
198-550: A small yard and depot were located here. As the line curved due south to cross over CA-63, a diverging switch led east to a connection with the Porterville-Orosi District at Wyeth. The rail line ran alongside the east side of CA-63 for several miles until it reached the large facility at Calgro, where the highway diverged southwest. Crossing the Southern Pacific's Exeter Branch at mile post 33.30,
231-582: A vehicle transloading facility was built in Exeter. The segment from Loma to Tulare was subsequently abandoned and removed in late 1994. In 1995 the TVRR filed with the ICC to abandon the remaining portions of the line from Cutler to Calwa. By 1997, scrapping and removal had begun. By 1998 the rails were gone. The TVRR itself became part of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad in 1998, including
264-670: The Budd Company entered into a partnership with the French tire company Michelin to produce lightweight stainless steel Budd–Michelin railcars in the US. Those advances in lightweight railcar design were important steps in the development of the lightweight diesel-electric streamliners of the 1930s. Production of self-propelled railcars dropped with the onset of the Great Depression . However, their low operating costs prompted
297-696: The Winton Engine Company , and electrical equipment to General Electric. The Pullman Company was subsequently added as a subcontractor for car bodies. Improvements to railcars were sought by the Pullman Company, who experimented with lightweight designs in partnership with the Ford Motor Company in 1925. They then enlisted the services of pioneering all-metal aircraft designer William Bushnell Stout in 1931 to adapt airplane fuselage design concepts to railcars. Also in 1931
330-582: The TVRR, and was removed by 1994- along with the SP crossing in Tulare. In addition, the segment between Visalia and Cutler was not used by the TVRR and was removed by December 1994, except for the SP connector track at the Early California Foods plant in south Visalia — approximately from mileposts 23.70 to 24.00. A truck body manufacturer in Tulare was served by the TVRR until early 1994, when
363-523: The abandonment is about 1.20 miles east of the throat of the wye at Calwa. At MP 65.20, a spur led south to the Mattei Winery. Lone Star was the next stop, with a depot and packing house served by the railroad. The line then curved southeast at DeWolf, served a packing house, and entered the town of Del Rey. The railroad served several large citrus packing houses in Del Rey. Still running southeast,
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#1732794361147396-405: The city of Tulare. Just after crossing CA-63 / Mooney Blvd, a spur ran north to serve a lumber mill and large winery. The line continued through Tulare, with a depot present near the downtown area. A truck body manufacturer was also served here. Shortly, the line crossed the Southern Pacific's Bakersfield Subdivision, with an interlocking tower present. Still running southwest, the line continued to
429-541: The connector track at Cutler to the Porterville-Orosi District (and Orange Cove) was removed by 1998. In Reedley, the right-of-way through town has been converted to a bike path. The former ATSF steel span bridge over the Kings River is still in use by the SJVR. A short segment just northeast of Reedley at LacJac, approximately 1.2 miles, is still in use by the SJVR to serve a large wine and beverage-making industry. The segment from Reedley, MP 51.0, to Calwa, MP 67.0,
462-705: The construction of the Galloping Goose railcars built by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) from used Buick and Pierce-Arrow automobiles with a custom-built cargo box or flatbed behind the body. The RGS built eight Geese in its own shops between 1931 and 1936, including one for the San Cristobal Railroad . The RGS did not use the Galloping Goose name until very late in its history, instead referring to
495-510: The depot was located just south of this diamond. Still running due south, the line ended street running and ran just to the west of Santa Fe Ave as it left the Visalia city limits. Ambler was the next location of significance; an interchange track between the ATSF and the SP/VE. Additional shippers were served by the Santa Fe at Higby and Loma. Just south of Loma, the rails curved southwest towards
528-552: The distinction of having the largest fleet of gas-electric motor cars in the country. The petroleum-electric drive control system invented in 1914 by Hermann Lemp , an engineer with GE, became the technological foundation of self-propelled gasoline railcars in the 1920s. In 1923, the Electro-Motive Company began production of self-propelled railcars , subcontracting bodies to the St. Louis Car Company , prime movers to
561-469: The following routes: The TVRR later abandoned the following tracks: In May 1998, most of the remaining track was sold to the San Joaquin Valley Railroad . Doodlebug (railcar) Doodlebug or hoodlebug is a nickname in the United States for a type of self-propelled railcar most commonly configured to carry both passengers and freight, often dedicated baggage, mail or express, as in
594-634: The lack of power and traction, the unreliability of their transmissions, and an inability to reverse, were major limitations. General Electric ("GE") was the pioneer of gas-electric railcars: GE in February 1906 rebuilt a wood passenger coach into a gas-electric unit which was placed in trial service on the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. The St. Louis–San Francisco Railway was an early adopter of this technology, placing an initial order for ten gas-electric units in 1910 and seven additional by 1913, giving it
627-518: The line continued due south into Visalia, crossing the St John's River on a large steel bridge. Entering Visalia, a small yard was present along with several spurs serving an ice house and other lineside industries. Continuing south down Santa Fe street, the rails were embedded in the asphalt, a practice known as Street running. Just south of the yard, the tracks crossed the Southern Pacific / Visalia Electric line to Exeter (also street running), and
660-577: The line passed adjacent to a small airstrip and then the Parlier Cemetery as it again curved east into Parlier. After crossing the Santa Fe Canal, the line ran alongside East Parlier Ave for a short distance, then between 1st and Fresno streets. The Nicholas G Verry Inc winery had a rail connection here, and spurs led to various industries in town. Leaving Parlier, the line ran east along Parlier Ave where it served another packing shed on
693-487: The line was extended from Visalia to Corcoran via Tulare , in 1898. Depots were established along the line every few miles. The route of the line including locations of significance was as follows: Beginning in Calwa, a wye leads the Visalia District tracks east from the mainline and runs alongside Annadale road for some distance. The line crosses Chestnut Ave and still serves several lineside industries here. The beginning of
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#1732794361147726-463: The predominant commodity. Many of the depots along the line were closed in the 1970s, but several remained open as of 1978, such as the depot in Cutler. Cutler was an important junction point on the line, with various lines extending north, south, and southwest. The other active depot on the line in 1978 was at Reedley. The Reedley depot was closed by 1979 and the one at Cutler was closed and demolished
759-735: The small remaining sections of the Visalia District. A short (approximately 0.4 mile) segment of the line remains in Corcoran to serve on-line industries. The segment between Corcoran and Tulare was abandoned and removed by 1994. The right-of-way through Tulare was subsequently converted into a bike path, which was opened in 2004. Named the Santa Fe Trail, it is a 5-mile (8.0 km), lighted trail from Prosperity Avenue (east) to Inyo Avenue (west). The rails from Tulare to Loma were removed in 1994. A segment remains in place in Visalia, between "K" Ave (Ambler, now called Billy Goat Junction, also
792-407: The small town of Waukena, before reaching Corcoran and the wye there. At the peak of passenger service around 1915, as many as 10 trains ran daily. In later years, service was provided by a doodlebug , sometimes pulling a trailer coach. Passenger service was eventually discontinued in 1949. The line remained a valuable source of freight revenue for the Santa Fe through the 1970s, with produce being
825-483: The south side. Reaching LacJac, the line again curved southeast as it served an adjacent beverage facility. The line then crossed the Southern Pacific's Exeter Branch just before crossing the Kings River on a large steel bridge, entering the town of Reedley. A wye with the Wahtoke District was located here. In Reedley, the ATSF ran parallel to the SP for some distance. Several large packing houses were served on
858-510: The southeast side of Reedley. Leaving Reedley, the line continued to serve packing houses as it skirted the north end of Dinuba and crossed Road 80 / Alta Ave. Entering Sultana, the line crossed CA J40 / Ave 416 at a steep angle as it served several large packing houses. Continuing southeast towards Cutler, more packing houses were served on the northwest side of town, as well as several in the town itself. Running parallel to Railroad Ave in Cutler,
891-488: The trip to Porterville, where it was turned on the wye for the return trip to Calwa. EMD GP60M units 116 and 130 led the train, which was made up of a flat car carrying OLS signage and ATSF caboose # 999805. On Dec 22, 1992, the line was sold to the Tulare Valley Railroad . The TVRR purchased the rail, ties, ballast, and land. The segment of the Visalia District between Corcoran and Tulare was not used by
924-638: The vehicles as motors and later as buses . According to local folklore, the nickname was coined as a reference to the their rocking gait or the goose-like tone of their horns, but rail historian Mallory Hope Ferrell notes that the term galloping goose had previously been used to refer to doodlebugs operating on other railroads, notably the Northern Pacific Railway , in the 1920s. Most of the RGS Geese have been preserved, with several in operating condition. Factory production of doodlebugs
957-528: Was closed for business in 1958 and is now privately owned. The short remaining track at Calwa (1.50 mi) is sometimes used to store ballast and Maintenance of way cars, and also serves lineside industries in the area. Tulare Valley Railroad The Tulare Valley Railroad ( / t ʊ ˈ l ɛər i / ) ( reporting mark TVRR ) was operational from December 22, 1992 after acquiring several former Santa Fe Railway branch lines in California's San Joaquin Valley on October 20, 1992. The company
990-518: Was common for doodlebugs to be repowered with a diesel engine. Doodlebugs sometimes pulled an unpowered trailer car, but were more often used singly. They were popular with some railroads during the first part of the 20th century to provide passenger and mail service on lightly used branch lines at less expense than with a train consisting of a locomotive and coaches with larger crew. Several railroads, mostly small regional and local networks, provided their main passenger services through doodlebugs in
1023-430: Was formed by Morris Kulmer & Kern Schumucher (of A&K Railroad Materials ) and Michael Van Wagenen of Kyle Railways . A&K Railroad Materials specializes in dismantling railroad lines and selling relay (used) track materials. Kyle Railways operates several shortline railroads throughout the United States. The TVRR operated 158 miles (254 km) of track from December 1992 to May 1998. The track consisted of
Visalia District - Misplaced Pages Continue
1056-403: Was removed by 1998. In Parlier, a portion of the former right-of-way was converted into a park. The park features several rail motifs, including a water tank and simulated railroad track / path, which approximates the original location of the Santa Fe rails. The last remaining depot is at Lone Star. This is a two-story type 2A depot which stands in its original location. Built in 1913, the depot
1089-771: Was revived in 1949 with introduction of the Budd Rail Diesel Car . The variant name hoodlebug was largely limited to the mid-Atlantic states, particularly Pennsylvania. A hiking trail in Indiana County, Pennsylvania , is named Hoodlebug Trail. The last remaining Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) gas-electric doodlebug, M.177, is on display at the City of Los Angeles " Travel Town Museum " in Griffith Park . Two other AT&SF doodlebugs, both converted to diesel-electric locomotion, survive: The M.160
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