Golden Gate (passenger train)
Encyclopedia
The Golden Gate was one of the named passenger trains
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
(Santa Fe). With bus connections, it provided service between San Francisco and Los Angeles
via California
's San Joaquin Valley
.
and Barstow
, which was appreciably longer than the SP's route via Glendale
and Lancaster
. These trains were withdrawn from service in 1918.
In 1936, the completion of (1) highway improvements on the Ridge Route
highway between Los Angeles and Bakersfield and (2) the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
gave the Santa Fe a new opportunity to compete with the SP by offering faster service on these sections of the route. The lightweight Golden Gate streamliner
s were assigned train Nos. 60–63, and ran daily between Oakland (station was actually in Emeryville) and Bakersfield. Santa Fe buses connected between San Francisco across the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge to Oakland and between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, most with stops at North Hollywood and Hollywood and some with stops at Burbank
, Glendale, and Pasadena
. The Oakland transfer point was later moved to Richmond
with buses making stops at Oakland and Berkeley
.
A direct competitor to the Southern Pacific Railroad's
San Joaquin Daylight
, the Golden Gate's scheduled 9-hour and 25-minute transit time bested that of the Daylight because of the long railroad route between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. After a series of public hearings and legal challenges were concluded, the first all-new, six-car consists entered revenue service on July 1, 1938. Standard fares were $6.00 for one-way travel, $10.80 round-trip, rates that were matched by the SP. The entire route comprised 312.8 rail miles and 112 bus miles.
In 1939, an additional train, the Valley Flyer
was added to the Bakersfield-Oakland route to provide more access to the Golden Gate International Exposition
. After 1940, with the Exposition over, this train was moved to the San Diego to Los Angeles route.
The Golden Gate was all but eliminated on April 11, 1965 though No. 62 was reassigned as No. 8 and took over the duties of the southbound Fast Mail Express. Service was ended once-and-for-all on April 28, 1968. Today, Amtrak California's
San Joaquin runs the same route from Port Chicago
to Bakersfield.
The Golden Gate consists (two trainsets) as of March 1948:
Golden Gate consists in 1958:
Nos. 60–63
No. 62 only
In May, 1960 two-unit ALCO PA sets replaced the F-units. Car #1346 was converted to a "Vend-O-Lounge" vending machine car in May 1964 (operated by the Harvey Company), though it failed to gain public acceptance and was subsequently replaced with a standard 1500-series Lunch Counter Diner the following September.
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
(Santa Fe). With bus connections, it provided service between San Francisco and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
via California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
.
History
In 1912, The Santa Fe tried to compete with Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) for passenger service on this route by establishing overnight trains which included through cars to and from San Diego, the Saint train northbound and the Angel train southbound. The Santa Fe route was via San BernardinoSan Bernardino
San Bernardino, California is a large city in the Inland Empire Metropolitan Area of Southern California.San Bernardino may also refer to:-Landforms:*San Bernardino , a torrent that flows through the Italian province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola...
and Barstow
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
, which was appreciably longer than the SP's route via Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
and Lancaster
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
. These trains were withdrawn from service in 1918.
In 1936, the completion of (1) highway improvements on the Ridge Route
Ridge Route
The Ridge Route, officially the Castaic-Tejon Route, was a two-lane highway running between Los Angeles and Kern counties, California. Opened in 1915 and paved with concrete between 1917 and 1921, the road was the first paved highway directly linking the Los Angeles Basin with the San Joaquin...
highway between Los Angeles and Bakersfield and (2) the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge is a pair of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay of California, in the United States. Forming part of Interstate 80 and of the direct road route between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries approximately 270,000 vehicles per day on its two decks...
gave the Santa Fe a new opportunity to compete with the SP by offering faster service on these sections of the route. The lightweight Golden Gate streamliner
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
s were assigned train Nos. 60–63, and ran daily between Oakland (station was actually in Emeryville) and Bakersfield. Santa Fe buses connected between San Francisco across the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge to Oakland and between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, most with stops at North Hollywood and Hollywood and some with stops at Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, Glendale, and Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The Oakland transfer point was later moved to Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
with buses making stops at Oakland and Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
.
A direct competitor to the Southern Pacific Railroad's
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
San Joaquin Daylight
San Joaquin Daylight
The San Joaquin Daylight was a Southern Pacific passenger train inaugurated between Los Angeles and Oakland Pier by way of the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Pass on July 4, 1941. It operated until the advent of Amtrak in 1971.-Passenger cars:Pullman-Standard built coaches were assigned to the...
, the Golden Gate's scheduled 9-hour and 25-minute transit time bested that of the Daylight because of the long railroad route between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. After a series of public hearings and legal challenges were concluded, the first all-new, six-car consists entered revenue service on July 1, 1938. Standard fares were $6.00 for one-way travel, $10.80 round-trip, rates that were matched by the SP. The entire route comprised 312.8 rail miles and 112 bus miles.
In 1939, an additional train, the Valley Flyer
Valley Flyer
The Valley Flyer was a short-lived, named passenger train of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.The all-heavyweight, "semi-streamlined" train operated between Bakersfield and Oakland, California during the 1939–1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, located on "Treasure Island" in...
was added to the Bakersfield-Oakland route to provide more access to the Golden Gate International Exposition
Golden Gate International Exposition
The Golden Gate International Exposition , held at San Francisco, California's Treasure Island, was a World's Fair that celebrated, among other things, the city's two newly-built bridges. The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge was dedicated in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge was dedicated in 1937...
. After 1940, with the Exposition over, this train was moved to the San Diego to Los Angeles route.
The Golden Gate was all but eliminated on April 11, 1965 though No. 62 was reassigned as No. 8 and took over the duties of the southbound Fast Mail Express. Service was ended once-and-for-all on April 28, 1968. Today, Amtrak California's
Amtrak California
Amtrak California is a brand name used by the Caltrans Division of Rail for all state-supported Amtrak rail routes within the U.S. State of California...
San Joaquin runs the same route from Port Chicago
Port Chicago
Port Chicago can refer to:* Port Chicago, California, former town in the United States* Port Chicago disaster, deadly explosion that occurred at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California on 17 July 1944, killing 320 people...
to Bakersfield.
Timeline
- January 20, 1912: The Santa Fe begins service between Los Angeles and San Francisco via Barstow and Bakersfield with overnight trains with through cars from/to San Diego, the Saint northbound and the Angel southbound.
- December 31, 1918: The Saint and the Angel are discontinued.
- October 8, 1935: The Santa Fe applies for permission from the Railroad Commission of the State of CaliforniaCalifornia Public Utilities CommissionThe California Public Utilities Commission is a regulatory agency which regulates privately owned public utilities in the state of California, including electric power, telecommunications, natural gas and water companies...
to operate "one-ticket, point-to-point, streamlined train service" between San Francisco and Bakersfield, with coordinated motor coach (bus) service extending the route south to Los Angeles. - November 12, 1936: The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge opens.
- July 1, 1938: Revenue operations for the coordinated rail-bus service commence.
- June 11, 1939: The Valley Flyer is added to the route to serve the Golden Gate International Exposition.
- 1940: The Golden Gate consists are expanded to seven cars with the addition of two "chair" cars.
- 1940-1941 Valley Flyer reassigned to service between San Diego and Los Angeles.
- 1942: Consist expands to 7 cars, and each logs 626 daily miles.
- July, 1949: Valley-type 6-6-4 sleeping cars are added to train Nos. 60 and 61.
- 1957: Train Nos. 62 and 63 add railway post office cars to their consists.
- 1958: The use of round-end observation cars is discontinued.
- February 2, 1958: Train No. 61 is quietly withdrawn from service.
- June 15, 1958: Northbound rail service is cut back to RichmondRichmond, CaliforniaRichmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
. - April 11, 1965: Train Nos. 60 and 63 are withdrawn and No. 62 is redesignated as No. 8.
- April 28, 1968: The Golden Gate makes its last run.
Equipment used
Initial Golden Gate consists (two lightweight trainsets), July 1938:- EMC E1A Locomotive #8L–#9L
- BaggageBaggage carA baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
-"Chair" car / Coach with newsstandNewsagentA newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
(36 seats) #3490–#3491 - "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3115–#3116
- ClubClub CarClub Car is the world’s largest manufacturer of small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles.-Powertrain:From initial introduction of their gas powered golf carts, Club Car used a Kawasaki FZ340 9 horsepower engine until 1991. In 1992, it was replaced by a Kawasaki 286 cc FE290 9 horsepower...
-LoungeLounge carA lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
-"Chair" car / Coach (26 seats) #3117–#3118 - Fred Harvey CompanyFred Harvey CompanyThe origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
Lunch Counter DinerDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
-Lounge #1501–#1502 - Round-end Parlor-Lounge-ObservationObservation carAn observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
(34 seats) #3243–3244
The Golden Gate consists (two trainsets) as of March 1948:
- EMC E1A Locomotive #3LA, #4LA, #5L, #7L–#9L (shared power with the San DieganSan DieganThe San Diegan was one of the named passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and a "workhorse" of the railroad. Its 126-mile route ran from Los Angeles, California south to San Diego. It was assigned train Nos. 70–79 The San Diegan was one of the named passenger trains of the...
) - BaggageBaggage carA baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
-"Chair" car / Coach with newsstandNewsagentA newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
(36 seats) #3490–#3491 - "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3116, #3119, #3137–#3166
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3116, #3119, #3137–#3166
- "Chair" car / LoungeLounge carA lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
#3117–#3118 - Fred Harvey CompanyFred Harvey CompanyThe origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
Lunch Counter DinerDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
#1500–#1507 - "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3116, #3119, #3137–#3166
- Leg Rest "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats)* #2861–#2911
- SleeperSleeping carThe sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
Valley-type (6 sections, 6 roomettes, 4 bedrooms) - Round-end "Chair" car / Coach-ObservationObservation carAn observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
(58 seats) #3243–3244
* Extra car added between Chicago and Oakland during the summer months.
Golden Gate consists in 1958:
- ALCO PA/PBALCO PAALCO PA refers to a family of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul passenger trains that were built in Schenectady, New York in the United States by a partnership of the American Locomotive Company and General Electric between June, 1946 and December, 1953...
#51LAC or - EMD F-unitEMD F-unitEMD F-units were a line of Diesel-electric locomotives produced between November 1939 and November 1960 by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors-Diesel Division. Final assembly for all F-units was at the GM-EMD plant at La Grange, Illinois and the GMDD plant in London, Ontario...
300-series LAB sets
Nos. 60–63
- any lightweight BaggageBaggage carA baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
- Bar-LoungeLounge carA lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
#1388–#1399, #1346–#1349 - Fred Harvey CompanyFred Harvey CompanyThe origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
Lunch Counter (DinerDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
) #1500, #1503–#1507 - "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
No. 62 only
- Railway Post OfficeRailway post officeIn the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
-Baggage #3402–#3408, #3600–#3606 - any lightweight BaggageBaggage carA baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
- Bar-Lounge #1388–#1399, #1346–#1349
- Fred Harvey CompanyFred Harvey CompanyThe origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
Lunch Counter (DinerDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
) #1500, #1503–#1507 - "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070–#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144–#3158
In May, 1960 two-unit ALCO PA sets replaced the F-units. Car #1346 was converted to a "Vend-O-Lounge" vending machine car in May 1964 (operated by the Harvey Company), though it failed to gain public acceptance and was subsequently replaced with a standard 1500-series Lunch Counter Diner the following September.
See also
- Passenger train service on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway