Pacific Coast Railway Stories

TRIBUNE April 13, 1897 through April 19, 1897. SAN LUIS ENJOYED ITSELF AT THE VARIOUS WATERING PLACES. The glorious springtime declared a day of outing for the people of this city Sunday. Parties left in every direction of the compass, the principal object not being so much the destination as the desire to get out of town. The first excursion over the Pacific Coast railway was a success. The delegation from this city was not very large but down the line, Santa Maria, Nipomo and Arroyo Grande saw the opportunity for a good time and filled the four coaches. The ride to the Port and Sycamore Springs was a delightful one. The heat of the interior was lost in the invigorating breeze that wafted in through the "Golden Gate" of San Luis Obispo county. At the Port Mr. Gagliardo of the Hotel Marre, treated all comers with great royalty. The dining room was a decided attraction. Walter Fritz Baurele was a great success. At Sycamore Springs Manager Baden looked out for the welfare of a large crowd of San Luis Obispoans, and won much praise for his opening Sunday of the excursion season. Next Sunday he will have a band to discourse sweet music.

TRIBUNE June 22, 1897 through June 28, 1897 The passenger train on the Pacific Coast Railway, struck a hog at Rock Siding in Edna, Sunday morning and literally ground the porker into sausage meat. And just a month later, TRIBUNE July 20, 1897 through July 26, 1897. Two horses were run over and killed by a Pacific Coast railway train near Edna yesterday.

TRIBUNE July 13, 1897 through July 19, 1897. Several days ago the TRIBUNE stated that rumor had it that the Oregon Improvement Company would soon establish a lumber yard near the Pacific Coast Railway depot in this city. (The yard was north of the SLO yard across South Street) The rumor has turned out true and yesterday a license was issued for the conducting of such a business. Just as soon as it was issued, 3,500 feet of lumber was sold. Two schooners loaded with lumber for the yard are now at Port Harford. Surveying commences today for the spur of the Pacific Coast Railway, which is to carry rock from Bishop's Peak to the Port Harford breakwater.

August 3, 1897 through August 9, 1897. BISHOP'S PEAK QUARRY. WORK COMMENCED ON THE ROAD LEADING TO IT. Work has been commenced on the road which is to reach the quarry of Dr. G.B. Nichols on Bishop's Peak. First of all there is to be constructed a railroad 1,000 feet in length about the base of the quarry. Over this line the rock will be hauled to a double incline track 2,700 feet in length, over which by means of cables the rock will be conveyed down the slope to the terminal point of the spur of the Pacific Coast railway. The cable will so operate that the loaded cars going down on one track will provide the power to pull upon the other track, the empties. The short road about the base of the quarry and the incline road are to be constructed at a cost to be borne by the City Improvement company of San Francisco, which through its president, Mr. Denison, has the contract on the breakwater at Port Harford. The Pacific Coast Railway company constructs the main spur from its line. The quarry is 702 feet above sea level and 400 feet above the narrow gauge spur. It is expected that before very many days pass that over 100 men will be employed. Surveyor Dittrich accomplished all the engineering and it was duly approved by J.H. Humphreys, the special engineer of the company.

TRIBUNE August 6, 1899 through August 12, 1899. PACIFIC COAST RAILWAY NOTES. The Pacific Coast Railway is one of the busiest lines in California just now. All the bridges and crossings between Avila and Port Harford are being strengthened in preparation for the long seige (sic) of grain hauling. The grain is coming up from the south at a lively rate. The passenger train brought up several car loads yesterday and the evening previous, twenty-four carloads composed the regular freight train. Seven car loads of bituminous rock are on the side track at Rock Siding at Edna, awaiting shipment. Apple shipping from Arroyo Grande will soon be on in full blast. A new floor has been put down in a portion of the warehouse at Steele's station.

San Luis Obispo Telegram Tribune also reported these two stories attributed to Hurbert C. Grundell, the PCR's last manager: When a heavy train would approached one of the steep grades along the line the conductor would pass through the passenger cars announcing, "All First Class passengers get off and walk. All Second Class passengers get off and push." Another of Grundell's stories was about a farmer at Nipomo who liked to get his evening mail on time offered the PCR conductor $25 for the first time he brought the train in on time. About a month later the train steamed in on time. The farmer handed the $25 to the conductor, but the money was refused. "But I told you that if you ever brought this train in on time I'd give you $25," the farmer reminded him. "I remember," the Conductor said, "but this is last night's train."

Now those last two stories are great but they sound a little too apocryphal to this Webmaster. A little digging on Google found these stories: Pakistan: When the train reached a steep slope and the engine was unable to pull it up, the first class passengers were asked to remain seated, the second class passengers were asked to get off and walk and the third class passengers were ordered to push the train. Arkansas: There were three kinds of passengers who rode on that train. First class, Second class and Third class. I said, "Conductor, what is the difference between the First class and Third class passengers, they are all riding in the same car?" He said, "Just wait a while and I will show you." We ran a little ways and stopped again. The conductor came in and said, "First class passengers, keep your seats; Second class passengers, get off and walk; Third class passengers, get off and push." Ohinemuri Railway, New Zealand: Many were the stories about "The Cat's" unpunctuality, the best possibly being the one in which a local citizen - one of those who frequently took an evening stroll along the platform to see the train arrive cried out excitedly to the engine driver as the train drew in, "You've made history! You're dead on time!" "On time be blowed!" shouted back the driver "this is last night's train!"

Now here's a Pacific Coast story I do believe: The engineers of the Pacific Coast Railway used to make a joke about the southern end of their narrow gauge rail line as they were heading into Los Alamos and Los Olivos. By the time they reached Los Alamos they were "Lost Almost" and at Los Olivos they said they were "Lost Altogether."

Here's another SLO Tribune story from the week of February 15, 1898 through February 21, 1898. RAILROAD ACCIDENT. Yesterday morning when the Pacific Coast Railway passenger train was returning from Port Harford the driving rod of engine No. 101, broke. The air brakes were at once applied. There were no passengers aboard except News Agent J.E. Lewis, who received a good shaking up from the shock resulting from the speedy application of the brakes. The broken rod smashed the foot-board along the engine but caused no other damage.