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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 9h

Resting beneath the fragrant eucalyptus, Sacramento Northern #22 lives its final days at Greendale, on the Holland Branch — 1940. #22 was built in 1905 for the Chico Electric Ry. and rebuilt in 1920 for the Suisun City-Vacaville line. It was retired in 1938 and laid to rest as a shed in Greendale.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

"Fast" is a bit of a stretch. The IER ran mostly on city streets, meaning speed was generally ~45mph if not slower. When it was on private ROW (the S.P. main), trains could go ~60mph! But for what it was, it offered great local service to communities. AC Transit pales in comparison to it.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

6 minutes might have been generous. A good chunk of that was street running, but still pretty neat!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Keeping a Red Train timetable above my desk just in case I need to catch one. ( they stopped running in 1941 )

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

A "Red Train" drops off riders at Central & Webster Ave. in Alameda, on its way to Alameda Jct. — 1940 Few riders rode to the end of the line; a consequence of the Bay Bridge, which closed the Alameda Pier. This doubled trip times to SF from 25 mins to 53 mins, worsening plummeting ridership.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Commuting to my new job at the Western Railway Museum aboard Amtrak is a sentence I've always dreamed of saying. I'm excited to begin this new chapter of my life, as an official Archivist!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I was wondering about that. I wonder why this photo was taken then; the angle and "style" of it doesn't strike me as promotional material. Thanks for the input.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Before billionaires and boutiqes, Tiburon was a railroad town. As the Northwestern Pacific RR's southern terminus, Tiburon's port ran all day, shipping freight across the Bay. This demanded a roundhouse. In this 1930-view, we find it fully stocked, ready to send engines up north to Eureka.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Calm before the storm: a Northwestern Pacific interurban waits for sparse riders at Mill Valley, before the evening rush — 1938. The Golden Gate Bridge has been open for a year. Ridership is dwindling, poached by buses over the bridge. Though the end is nigh, the NWP's orange trains soldier on.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Two Key Route streetcars cross San Leandro's city limits on their way from Hayward, bound for Oakland — c. 1917 The 330-series "Haywards" dominated the Hayward Line. These homebuilt streetcars were reputable for their quality and speed, often running in pairs for express service.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

In the photos, notice how the Key Route's 665-series cars were equipped with trolley poles, just for the event!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Electric streetcars once linked Hayward and Oakland. But on July 30, 1923, interurbans took over the line! For the christening of their new ferries "Hayward" and "San Leandro," the Key Route ran a special train to the namesake towns — the only time an interurban ever ran to Hayward!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Are there any replacement plans for the bi-levels on the Capitol Corridor? I know they're semi-off the San Joaquins, courtesy of the Venture sets.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Limited space on the pier meant careful planning by the Key Route... and consolidating trains! From Nov. 11, 1911 to July 2, 1933, all Northbrae and Claremont trains were consolidated (and broken) at 43rd & Linden Ave. in Oakland, creating mega consists to and from the Key Pier! ca. 1911?

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Southern Pacific #332 waits for passengers at the Thousand Oaks Wye in Albany, by Solano Avenue — c. 1934 The intersection of Colusa & Solano Ave. was a junction and terminal for two S.P. interurban lines. A small waiting room and crew shack could be found, amidst the bustling city of Albany.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It was fun being at Muni Heritage Weekend, representing the Western Railway Museum! It's amazing to finally meet so many people, like the cable car folks and @davidgallagher.bsky.social, and everyone who came to the booth! So much so I didn't get any photos of the trolleys...

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Photo Credits: opensfhistory.org/Display/wnp2...

opensfhistory.org

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

From 1947 to 1949, San Francisco abandoned over a dozen streetcar lines. One of them was only 17 years old. Opened in 1932, the 31-Balboa line was SF's last new streetcar line (before the 1990s). Despite being fairly successful and still in good condition, buses replaced it on July 2nd, 1949.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I meant to say abandoned. *sigh* time to repost.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Showcase Weekend marked the 80th Anniversary of the Western Railway Museum. 80 years ago, young railfans spontaneously bought a chartered streetcar to save it from ruin. Today, we're proud to stand in front of it as volunteers of the museum it created. Here's to another 80 years of preservation!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Photo Credits: www.opensfhistory.org/Display/wnp1...

opensfhistory.org

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A Muni double-ended PCC glides across the Hyde St. cable line on its way through North Beach. Last days of the F-line — Jan. 14, 1951 At the time, only 10 PCCs and 5 "Magic Carpets" made up Muni's modernized fleet. Most money from the 1947 Bond Issue went to buying buses, killing streetcar lines.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Though the Vallejo & Northern Ry. failed, it does live on! Notably: their big cut in Vallejo. They dug the cut in 1912 for a fast way to Vallejo's ports. But no trains used it until 1920, when the Napa Valley Route seized it for a new mainline. It was used by the California Northern RR until 2025.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Ah great! I read the thread but didn't see this. Thanks!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

As a docent and historian for the Western Railway Museum, I've always argued the same thing: the death of streetcars was inevitable in the world of economics, politics, and public opinion. NCL only accelerated it. What's your book called? I'd love to read it.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The failed Vallejo & Northern Ry's only streetcar ran in downtown Sacramento. Here was the route: M & Front St. -> 8th St. -> J St. -> 19th St. -> K St. Upon the V&N's bankruptcy, the Northern Electric Ry. (its financier) integrated it into their line. They abandoned all track on 19th and K St.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

In lieu of a Western Railway Museum bluesky account, here are the schedules for our upcoming Showcase Weekend! Made by yours truly, who will be leading all Carbarn #3 tours (and fiddling).

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The Vallejo & Northern was a failed electric railway that aimed to link Sacramento and Vallejo. They only owned one streetcar. In downtown Sacramento, their only car was run to satisfy city franchises. From 1911 to 1914, it liberally ran from the M St. Bridge to the Western Pacific Depot. ca. 1912

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Don't know if you've heard the news, but we got KCC 700 running!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

You speak as if all of our Kennecotts weren't left outside for decades! #700 only was put in CB3 a few years back. The others still languish outside...

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I'm an Archivist for the WRM; home to the largest Western rail archive. We're always happy to accept PE/LARY material in our state-of-the-art Archive. That being said, OERM would happily accept it too! They might put it to better use than I would. Happy to talk about this more if you need it.

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Showcase Saturday is the one annual event I can freely advertise at the Western Railway Museum. So, how about some posters? No AI was used at all. See these posted on the WRM Account (which I jointly run) in the coming days!

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Photo Credits: www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2...

facebook.com

Facebook

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Cambridge H. Lutèce @camlutece.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Electric interurbans once served Denver Union Station. But before that, they ran downtown! From 1910 to 1922, huge Denver & Interurban RR trains dodged traffic down 23rd St. to an Interurban Loop at Araphoe & 15th. There, riders could transfer to the Denver Tramways' interurbans and streetcars!

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