Railcar 007 - Dan Page's Unique Rail Speeder

 

Pacific Railcar Operators and Motorcar Operators West co-sponsored the first ever excursion over the former Southern Pacific Santa Cruz Branch from Davenport south through Santa Cruz to Watsonville and return for a total of 60 round trip miles. EC's were Dave McClain, Doug Stivers, and Bill Schertle.

 

The Railroad

The Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railroad (SCMB), or Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line (SCBRL), is a historic railway running through Santa Cruz County, California. It once ran operationally from Davenport to the Watsonville Junction where it connected to the Union Pacific Coast Line. Over the years it has had many connections to other local railroads over, through, and around the Santa Cruz Mountains. It includes a connection with the Roaring Camp Railroads line that makes regular trips between Felton and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

The Route

The right of way begins at Watsonville Junction, where it interchanges with Union Pacific's Coast Line. The line features street running sections in Watsonville and Santa Cruz where trains interact directly with roadway traffic. The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway operates part of its heritage railway service along SCMB tracks from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to that railroad's main line east of the Beach Street roundabout, before turning onto its own tracks at the Santa Cruz Wye towards Felton on the former South Pacific Coast Railroad mainline. After leaving Santa Cruz, the line runs parallel to California State Route 1 until Davenport, where the tracks end.