LONGEST INTERURBAN ELECTRIC RAILROAD IN THE US

This DVD production is available from our website at www.cspmovies.com. Below is the description of the full production.
Three electric lines in one video. The Sacramento Northern, SP Red Trains and the Peninsular Ry. We bring the SP ferry boats on the San Francisco Bay as well. This 1910 to 1957 history has been a favorite of rail-fans and historians.
Our scenes in Oakland, Berkeley and the Oakland Hills plus Sacramento Northern lines out to Contra Costa County are the essential Eastbay of a by-gone era. See the SN’s ferryboat that linked the south-end to the north-end carrying entire trains, both passenger and freight, from Chips to Mallard. The Sacramento Northern freight trains and the interchange with the electric Oakland terminal line at 40th & Shafter yard may very well be the best ever!
Follow several freights through the Oaklnad Hills, Montclair, the long tunnel and through Redwood Canyon to Moraga. From there we run out to Walnut Creek, Concord and the “subway” crossing under Santa Fe and SP tracks.
To quote a review in Railfan & Railroad magazine, “The 16mm film used in this program was shot by almost 20 photographers and ranges from very-good to excellent. This is another excellent and highly educational program from this producer….”
To quote a review in Model Railroad News, “He takes old 8 and 16mm film and spins it into gold….If you’re not already a traction fan, this video may push you over the edge!”

[@pauldavis1943]

Always makes me sad to think these electric lines existed and we tore them up

[@Ghauster]

I believe people stuck in traffic jams would enjoy having them back as commuter lines. If they didn't have to pay for the rebuilding.

[@mikehawk2003]

Unfortunately the population density of Contra Costa County wouldn't explode until long after the wire was taken down. Freight was also very minimal.

[@NYCS19339]

Its very sad here in the Midwest when you see the maps of Indiana and Ohio and realize how big the electric train network was. My grandparents talked about taking an interurban hitting fairly high speeds in the early 20th century

[@Jason-rn4jk]

Just as then as it is now, electrified rail lines require substantial amounts of maintenance. Constant inspection of the overhead wires, but also constant repair not only during winter time snow storms but summer time due to expansion in the wire. For what’s saved in diesel is delayed in repairs for electric. Logistically the only place that’s required would be the northeast corridor due to no ventilation in penn station. Elsewhere, it’s a bygone era that unless the price of diesel surpasses catenary maintenance we will probably not see again. When these lines were built linemen came a dime a dozen, today their salaries are too expensive to justify having them.

[@Ghauster]

@@Jason-rn4jk there is a reason most electric overhead lines have weight suspended to keep the tension constant in all kinds of weather.

[@fabrizio4682]

Now i have the urge to build and n scale layout

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Go for it, super fun and creative hobby!

[@tcarney57]

My grandfather, Robert "Bob" Sant, worked for the SN from 1931 to 1971 as a power electrician and from the late forties as the general power foreman. He started at the Concord sub-station tending rotary power converters, and as general foreman was also responsible for overhead wire, signals, and dispatcher telephones from Oakland to Chico on the far north end of the system. In 1951 he was required to move to Sacramento where maintenance of the Tower Bridge lift system was added to his responsibilities. He lamented the fact that when he was made general power foreman, his primary task was to eventually dismantle the electric system from Oakland to the last electric holdout in Yuba City (on the old Northern Electric) as the SN dieselized. He saw almost all of the history shown in this video.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Good to remember all that. People need to learn what built up things that were useful steps toward what we are today.

[@notlisted-cl5ls]

OMG!!!! i know your family!!!! my uncle used to bang yer grandma, when yer grandpa was at work!!!

[@jimjams8320]

interesting. thanks for sharing

[@JawTooth]

This Iowa Traction Railway is a must see for railfans. It still operates a common carrier freight railroad under electric power with locomotives over 100 years old. It still runs to this day and I have filmed it myself.

[@albertcarello619]

Now we miss these RAILROADS and wish they were running today.

[@jaminova_1969]

I wouldn't mind having a train that close! I'm always amazed when people move next to the tracks or airport and then complain!

[@paralyzes]

I could watch these electrified trains all day long. Having them operating on my residential street would have been so C O O L!

[@michaelodonnell8209]

How amazing to think Concord was a rural area of farms and orchards late into the 1950's. That countryside has now been replaced with suburbia and traffic jams on the freeways. You cannot stop progress. Like the comment below, there is a certain sadness to the changes. This is an outstanding film, and a job well done. At least someone had the vision to capture the final days.

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

If you want to explore this route virtually, G-Trax has made the South End of the SN for Train Simulator Classic 2024 by Dovetail Games. Worth every penny.

[@yrunaked4]

This DVD helped me to learn the geography of the SN so when the route came out on Steam, I was already familiar with the railroad and route.

[@yrunaked4]

This DVD changed my life and started my love for traction and Interurban. I cannot even tell you how many times I have watched it.

[@xaviersaavedra7442]

I wished we saved these, as a way to say never forget

[@seanpacificrailroad3700]

This is an amazing piece of California history thanks for bringing this back and preserving a great piece of history, in your amazing perfect video. I can only imagine how amazing it was probably to ride this back in the days. I wish there was more footage north of the Bay Area, like where I live Chico Gridley area.

[@patricknoveski6409]

Geez, that looked claustrophobic. But it's super interesting. Charles alway knows his details on all facts. Amazing.

[@scottyounger7948]

I've been looking into building an N scale layout based off of the Sacramento Northern for a while now so this video is an absolute God send for me. Thanks so much for uploading it

[@88SC]

Love the trains and the cars. In color to boot! Different California experience back then, wish I could time travel and spend a day there.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

We love the Sacramento Northern! More at www.cspmovies.com

[@davidmihevc3990]

I know I've said this before, but you guys just keep outdoing yourselves on these videos. This is some really great stuff.

[@horrorman9]

Wow! Live just minutes from the Mallard slipway and never knew that all that existed. It's so sad to see it all gone.

[@jeffpierce725]

Thanks Charles! Always enjoy the Bay Area postings!

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

In an alternate timeline they never got rid of it, Only difference is its a rapid transit line, Run by the S.V.R.T.A. (Sacramento Valley Regional Transit Authority)

[@Tivis7]

There's the slimmest chance it might still be possible. But for now, we can dream.

[@NormanSilver]

Thank you Charles! I'm convalescing and you DVD's are my companion. YOUR WORK IS SUPERB

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Thank you and get well soon.

[@williamlloyd3769]

Think a couple of the electric locomotives are now located at Travel Town in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. PS - Glad that some of these original track right of ways are still in use today. PS2 - Between BART, various light rail systems, and upcoming California Highway speed rail plus Las Vegas line, electrified trains will see a lot of use in California. Wonder what California Air Resources Board will push on the railroads in the future?

[@markiewodi3371]

Great video!!!

[@Tivis7]

Damn, talk about being short-sighted enough to tear these up. Here's to hoping the current generations will have learned enough to bring these back at some point.

[@danielsrailwayakarailroad259]

Charles smiley presents videos keep posting more clips of the Sacramento Northern railroad please ? This former interurban and electric railroad is very interesting to me, I know about the Pacific Electric railroad. But I really want to see more videos of the Sacramento Northern railroad on KZbin as well please ?

[@dfirth224]

Today it's the BART Concord line.

[@berkeleygang1834]

Thanks. Some great footage, combined with your excellent research and narration.

[@pavelizquierdorodriguez7431]

Modelos igual a la primera locomotora del reportaje trabajaron en Cuba en el central Hersey, además de arrastrar las casillas hechas rústicos e incómodos coches de pasajeros del tren eléctrico de Cuba, Casablanca en la Habana a Matanzas, con intercambio en Hersey, antigua provincia Habana Gracias por volver a ver estas magníficas máquinas.

[@TheRandCrews]

misread the thumbnail photo, i thought it said Oakland to Chicago 183 miles. ofc it’s more than 183 miles but that would be interesting

[@nickmalone3143]

Now were stuck on the freeway moving at 3 mph

[@mikehawk2003]

You wouldn't want to be on one of these trains going 25mph in summer heat with no AC.

[@Tivis7]

​​@mikehawk2003 bold of you to assume the cars wouldn't be updated/upgraded like everything else 😂

[@mikehawk2003]

@@Tivis7 With the finances this railroad had, very unlikely to happen.

[@Steven_Rowe]

I'm not American, I'm London born but now live in Australia. I went to the USA in 2019 and loved Sanfrancisco which has other amazing architecture and very interesting transport. Very sad that these old lines are gone, I find something very interesting about old ele tricks railways, especially thd old dc lines using the diamond pantographs. What voltage did the line use? My guess would be around 600 to 750DC.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

The south end used 1500 VDC but the north end used 600 VDC. Some of the equipment was dual voltage capable. Many of the freight locomotives had pantographs, trolley poles and outside third rail shoes to accommodate some unusual sections.

[@Steven_Rowe]

@@charlessmileyvideos so was the 1500 section used over roadways? Really good video , I love this old stuff because it has so much quirky character.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

@@Steven_Rowe Well, the Oakland region was all 1500 V except for the yard at the end connecting to the Key System tracks where they shared 600 VDC.

[@Steven_Rowe]

@@charlessmileyvideos once again Charles, many thanks for the information. When I was in San Francisco I loved the F line with the PCC cars and also the foreign trams. Also the trolleybuses and of course the cable cars.

[@NikeHM69]

Great video! It'd be great if someone did a follow up video showing what remains of the old infrastructure.

[@markwhite1333]

BART has taken up part of the SN has taken over a portion of the rail line. The western Rail Museum is in the Fairfield area NOT in the Yuba City area. It is just across the River from this area. But, rather it is

[@geoff1201]

So the railway did eventually go through Rockridge without running all the settlers out of town.

[@mikehawk2003]

Yes, but no yard for much needed additional capacity was the compromise.

[@jacktaylor6929]

Hedley had his way after all!

[@macmedic892]

Paid for the Gov. William J. Petomane Tollway!

[@davidjackson7281]

Excellent. Grew up in Moraga but perhaps too late for the SN. Oh well.

[@tracynation2820]

Super. 💙 T.E.N.

[@lassepeterson2740]

Spoked wheels caboose !

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Are you saying the Pennsylvania RR, from NY to Washing DC (229 miles), not counting commuter spokes around Philadelphia and a 111 mile spur to Harrisburg was not the ;longest electrified system? I realize PRR had many more miles of non-electrified tracks, but your title seems to suggest the the S&N was a larger interurban system.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

I said Interurban railroad - read the title

[@57629589]

Did any locos survive?

[@Jonathan-dq8hb]

Hudson Terraplane at the curb , 3:35 .

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Good observation.

[@True_NOON]

Me now on my way to connect half my openttd map with interurban railroad :

[@tysupply8408]

where are the tracks today?

[@Dulaman107]

Yeah, I can rebuild this

[@Zero76606]

If only we'd had a holistic transit and freight policy at almost any given moment in American history, we could have both had and kept nice things. Shoulda kept the trains nationalized in 1920.

[@wdubbelo]

honestly compared to other dutch trains the new ICNG is a major improvement in how quiet it is inside(for dutch standards) and it does ride very smoothly for dutch standards altho you do still notice when your going older tracks and yes dont expect cleaner trains than this staff shortages at NS prevent them from actualy fixing that problem and dutch people just have a habit of vandalising our own trains very sad i know also yea dont travel first class its litterly a scam its great if you abuse the NS subscriptions but if you dont just go second class its just first class but cheaper yes the seats are like 2% more comfortable in first clase but for double the price(litterly) it just aint worth it fuck you NS im not paying double for the exact same seating(the ICNG and pre 80's trains are the exeption to this and still the difference is minimal)

[@nickmalone3143]

Notice that no homeless line the tracks with tent cities .. back when we had an enforced border

[@davidjackson7281]

However did not some hobos ride trains back then? Or is that just in the movies?

[@MiguelX413]

The homeless aren't immigrants

[@karstent.66]

Electric railways are so much better. But, I guess, in a country of the size of the U.S. it is impossible to install headwires? Here in Europe, we got the now the EuroDual from Stadler. This is a very powerful machine. And it can drive everywhere. Diesel, electric and it "eats" multiple voltages, AC and DC. Electric passenger trains are quick, their accelration could be like the one of a Porsche...

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

They prioritize short term profits over benefits like full electrification. So to the class 1s electrifying their trackage would cost way too much.

[@chrisloomis1489]

Back when California was worth living in .....