This book presents a pictorial history of California Interurbans, beginning in San Diego and following the coastline up to Los Angeles, where the largest interurban system, the Pacific Electric Railway, operated. The story then moves north to the San Francisco Bay region, where there were numerous carriers, and finally into California's legendary wine country.
The Golden State of California was once a beehive of interurban electric railways, and the interurban played a major role in the development of intercity public transportation. Replacing the infrequent and costly steam railroad branch line network, the interurban grew and expanded at about the same time as the motor car. The interurban outpaced the motor car until the Depression. But the convenience of the motor car won the battle for users and only those Interurbans that operated freight, express and mail service and offered commuter trains were able to survive until after World War II. The convenience of the automobile and the motor bus triggered the eventual demise of the interurban system.
Contents: Introduction, pp. 9-14; 1. San Diego Electric Railway-The La Jolla Line, pp. 15-18; 2. San Diego & Southwestern Railway, pp. 19-22; 3. Glendale & Montrose Railway, pp. 23-28; 4. Pacific Electric Railway, pp. 29-104; 5. Visalia Electric Railroad-Orange Grove Route, pp. 105-110; 6. Tidewater Southern Railway, pp. 111-118; 7. Central California Traction Company, pp. 119-132; 8. San Francisco, Napa, & Calistoga Railway, pp. 133-144; 9. Peninsular Railway-The Blossom Line, pp. 145-154; 10. San Francisco & San Mateo Electric Railway - The 40 Line, pp. 155-166; 11. Key System, pp. 167-196; 12. Southern Pacific Company-Interurban Electric Railway, pp. 197-224; 13. Sacramento Northern Railway, pp. 225-252; 14. Northern Electric Railway, pp. 253-264; 15. Northwestern Pacific Railroad, pp. 265-282; 16. Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad, pp. 283-291; Bibliography, pp. 292-293.
Golden West Books, hardcover with color dust jacket, 293 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W photographs with text and captions.