I would like to point out that the Southern Pacific Railroad did not establish the route, but took it over shorty after it was constructed. It was previously named the South Pacific Coast Railroad. The portal shown in the video was constructed during the Southern Pacific’s ownership.
You should have went just north of Wright's on the west bank of the creek, near Eva the tracks crossed a unnamed touch and the trestle that crossed it still exist! Although the middle of the bridge is collapsed, I don't know what condition it's in now
Thanks so much for this reminder! I grew up in Los Gatos, and spent many hours exploring the area around Wright's Station in the '60s and '70s. Loved to picnic at Lake Ellsmond (sp?) nearby.
An interesting tidbit of local history. One comment, though: There may be no physical remains of structures, but the vinca plant is a dead giveaway - not only of the folks who lived and worked (and died) there, but also the era. (Another sure botanical clue is old fruit trees or orchards.) Ranger Don
Great video. I am familiar with the rail history in SC mtns and have visited several other tunnel portholes still accessible today. On the Santa Cruz side of the mountain the other end of the “summit” tunnel can be found near Laurel and there are at least 3 others near Mtn Charlie and Glenwood Rds. Also, there is one remaining tunnel that still sees daily rail service..”Tunnel 6”? In downtown Santa Cruz is part of the Roaring Camp Big Trees RR beach excursion train route.
Thanks for making this video. I visited this location about 40 years ago. It wasn't quite so overgrown at that time. In the book on the South Pacific Coast RR it says that the tunnel was sealed up during WWII.
The same story happened in the East Bay to the Sacramento Northern Railway which ran from Temescal to Chico through Shepherd Canyon. The plan was to put in I77. Tunnel filled in, Eastport Station and all the little hand-built redwood cabins bought up and demolished.
Hey, do the snow sheds above Truckee, CA. from the early railroads before the 1960's tunnel was built. It is a fun place to Jeep and it has some of the most wonderful graffiti in the abandoned tunnels that anyone has ever seen. There are some talented artist that practice in the abandoned tunnels.
At 3:29 you should do a live spirit box session. I bet you'd pull in a lot of interest of curiosity seekers. 😁 being there's most likely many spirits of those that lost their lives there. Excellent Video
Interesting about the petroleum like substance, there were oil wells at Moody Gulch and also a low production oil well in Los Gatos so finding oil and gas is probably a stretch.
This needs some correction, the south pacific coast railroad built the route as a narrow Guage, the railroad was purchased by souther pacific then standardized
Track already exists to go from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. Amtrak runs the Coast Starlight along Highway 101and the San Joaqan near Highway 99 in the Valley.
IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU COULD GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME TO READ THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PUT OUT. EVEN A REAL FAST SPEED READER WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME READING IT THAT FAST. I HATE VIDEOS THAT FLASH INFORMATION SO FAST THAT YOU CAN'T READ IT. WHAT'S THE POINT
I would like to point out that the Southern Pacific Railroad did not establish the route, but took it over shorty after it was constructed. It was previously named the South Pacific Coast Railroad. The portal shown in the video was constructed during the Southern Pacific’s ownership.
You should have went just north of Wright's on the west bank of the creek, near Eva the tracks crossed a unnamed touch and the trestle that crossed it still exist! Although the middle of the bridge is collapsed, I don't know what condition it's in now
Do you know about John Fremont?
I love seeing videos lile this. Just show a little over 100 years and you almost cant even tell what used to be there.
Thanks so much for this reminder! I grew up in Los Gatos, and spent many hours exploring the area around Wright's Station in the '60s and '70s. Loved to picnic at Lake Ellsmond (sp?) nearby.
An interesting tidbit of local history. One comment, though: There may be no physical remains of structures, but the vinca plant is a dead giveaway - not only of the folks who lived and worked (and died) there, but also the era. (Another sure botanical clue is old fruit trees or orchards.) Ranger Don
Great video. I am familiar with the rail history in SC mtns and have visited several other tunnel portholes still accessible today. On the Santa Cruz side of the mountain the other end of the “summit” tunnel can be found near Laurel and there are at least 3 others near Mtn Charlie and Glenwood Rds. Also, there is one remaining tunnel that still sees daily rail service..”Tunnel 6”? In downtown Santa Cruz is part of the Roaring Camp Big Trees RR beach excursion train route.
I have to wonder how many times my grandmother went through these tunnels on her way to or from Felton and San Francisco.
Thanks for making this video. I visited this location about 40 years ago. It wasn't quite so overgrown at that time. In the book on the South Pacific Coast RR it says that the tunnel was sealed up during WWII.
Thanks so much for a memory, a dear friend Rick Hamman showed me this area many moons ago.
Great video. Lots of lost history. Keep them coming! Looking forward to the next story.
I was ready for you to go into that tunnel wanted to see in there... maybe in the sequel
The same story happened in the East Bay to the Sacramento Northern Railway which ran from Temescal to Chico through Shepherd Canyon. The plan was to put in I77. Tunnel filled in, Eastport Station and all the little hand-built redwood cabins bought up and demolished.
thanks for sharing the lovely story
Do you know anything about the military base in the hills of Boulder Creek? Enjoyed your video very much
I believe that's on summit road. Farther east.
Great video…..thanks for your research and hard work….very enjoyable to watch…!
I grew up racing bicycles in 1970's and these roads were our daily adventures.
That bridge looks amazing! I want to see an episode where it gets cleaned with a power washer.
Thanks for doing this video and sharing the history behind it. Very cool to see and learn.
I have spent time on the Old Santa Cruz Highway and Summit Rd. But didn't see that bridge . Very cool
I miss living up there being in the redwoods.
Rode my pony all over this area as a child. There still is (at least in the 70's and eighty's) old foundations.
Hey, do the snow sheds above Truckee, CA. from the early railroads before the 1960's tunnel was built. It is a fun place to Jeep and it has some of the most wonderful graffiti in the abandoned tunnels that anyone has ever seen. There are some talented artist that practice in the abandoned tunnels.
Pretty rad video and doc. Thanks.
Thanks!
Thanks again Claire! 😃
At 3:29 you should do a live spirit box session. I bet you'd pull in a lot of interest of curiosity seekers. 😁 being there's most likely many spirits of those that lost their lives there.
Excellent Video
You think their souls would just stay there and hang out in the woods? What a dim understanding of the afterlife...
Did you find the swimming pool? Last time I was at Wrights there was a concrete in ground pool ringed with an iron pipe railing at the top.
I wish this RR line still exists. What a shame it was left to just fall into decay.
Great Chanel! I can’t wait to for many more 🙌🏽🙌🏽👏👍
Thank you for the video. You mention Ryan Masters who is also a talented professional photographer. 🤙
You missed seeing the concrete supports for the track still in the creek. AND you didn't go in the tunnel!
Interesting about the petroleum like substance, there were oil wells at Moody Gulch and also a low production oil well in Los Gatos so finding oil and gas is probably a stretch.
Oil wells operate near Half Moon Bay.
In my travels around this area there are numerous oil and gas seaps deep in the upper ravines.
stick a can there and collect some and use it as fuel for your house.
that photo at 1:31 looks like something out of a model train diorama
I thought the route as a narrow gauge, originated in Alameda .
great video! at 0:17 source of that map?
Thank you so much! It’s just a USGS topo map!
@@WHISTLESTOP not the topo map, i am referring to the railroad route from oakland to santa cruz.
Oh whoops. If you Google ‘South Pacific Coast Railroad’ it should pop up!
@@WHISTLESTOP Thank you!
Where did you obtain the 1914 map? Is it a USGS map?
Yup, it’s a USGS map! Found it on their website.
I've driven over that bridge. And yes, with no clue of the history.
Unbelievable how inaccessible that landscape looks save for that nice, even roadway and bridge.
This needs some correction, the south pacific coast railroad built the route as a narrow Guage, the railroad was purchased by souther pacific then standardized
Check my pinned comment at the top!
@California WhistleStop yeah for some reason it's didn't show up when I first watched this, thanks
You did not even look in the tunnel?
Haha, I was about to write the same comment.
If you are so close to the entrance at least peek into it. Looks like there is no insurmountable barrier.
The tunnel was submitted maybe 10 feet inside so you were seeing mostly everything, but on the other side, the tunnel goes 300 feet before the cave in
Southern Pacific let competitors build new railroads, then they bought them out. SPC, California Pacific, Oregon-California-Nevada, etc.
Why can’t Cali use this track instead of building the new train of death??
Track already exists to go from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. Amtrak runs the Coast Starlight along Highway 101and the San Joaqan near Highway 99 in the Valley.
Restore this tunnel and bring it back the rail road.
IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU COULD GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME TO READ THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PUT OUT. EVEN A REAL FAST SPEED READER WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME READING IT THAT FAST. I HATE VIDEOS THAT FLASH INFORMATION SO FAST THAT YOU CAN'T READ IT. WHAT'S THE POINT
I agree with you, but if you really want to read it push the stop button. this is not TV here.