Santa Maria Valley Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a 14.8 mile shortline railroad
that interchanges
with the Union Pacific Railroad's
(former Southern Pacific
) Coast Line at Guadalupe, California
. It is owned by the Coast Belle Rail Corporation.
Prior traffic included:
on the Air Base branch to transport military personnel to the Santa Maria Army Air Base for training. The Air Base branch was constructed in 1943. Excursions were offered for the first time on the SMVRR in November 2006, continuing into 2007.
The first 3.26 miles of track, from the Southern Pacific connection at Guadalupe to Betteravia Junction, was actually built by the SP in August 1899 to get to a sugar mill. The SP leased the track to the SMV years later. From Betteravia the SMV built to Santa Maria and on to Roadamite. The SMV also had branches running from Stowell to Air Base, Suey to Rosemary Farms and Rex to Gates.
By 1925 the railway traffic had steeply declined and the railway went bankrupt. Captain George Allan Hancock http://www.hancockcollege.edu/Default.asp?Page=687, a principal of the Dominion Oil Company, purchased the railroad for $75,000 at a Sheriff's auction. The railroad was then reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad in 1926. To this day, the railroad is owned by Captain G. Allan Hancock's estate.
The original line ran for 23 miles, from Guadalupe to Roadamite. The track from Gates to Roadamite was abandoned in 1950.
The last run of No. 21, Captain Hancock's favorite steam locomotive, was in February 1962. Captain Hancock took the throttle one last time. Walt Disney was in the cab with Captain Hancock.
The Union Sugar Beet plant closed in 1993, ending the beet train era.
In 1999 the G. Allan Hancock Estate gained full control of the SMV. The assets of the railroad was sold to Coast Belle Rail Corporation in 2006, ending an 81 year ownership by the Hancock family.
The SMV operated five 70 ton switchers and one U6B that were acquired between 1948-1959.
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
that interchanges
Interchange (freight rail)
In freight rail transport, interchange is the practice of railroads conveying freight cars from other companies over their lines...
with the Union Pacific Railroad's
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
(former Southern Pacific
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....
) Coast Line at Guadalupe, California
Guadalupe, California
Guadalupe is a small city located in Santa Barbara County, California. According to the U.S. Census of 2010, the city has a population of 7,080. It was incorporated as a city on May 19, 1946...
. It is owned by the Coast Belle Rail Corporation.
Traffic
The TRC handles 2,000 cars annually (1996 estimate). Commodities hauled include:- AsphaltAsphaltAsphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
- FertilizerFertilizerFertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
- Fresh and Frozen Food products
- GypsumGypsumGypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
wallboard - LumberLumberLumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
- Machinery
- Petroleum ProductsPetroleumPetroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
- PlasticPlasticA plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
- Scrap iron
Prior traffic included:
- BeerBeerBeer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
- SugarSugarSugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
and Sugar beetSugar beetSugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
s
Passenger Service
Special passenger service was only offered during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the Air Base branch to transport military personnel to the Santa Maria Army Air Base for training. The Air Base branch was constructed in 1943. Excursions were offered for the first time on the SMVRR in November 2006, continuing into 2007.
History
The SMV was incorporated on July 14, 1911 as the Santa Maria Valley Railway at Los Angeles, California with A. A. Dougherty listed as President.The first 3.26 miles of track, from the Southern Pacific connection at Guadalupe to Betteravia Junction, was actually built by the SP in August 1899 to get to a sugar mill. The SP leased the track to the SMV years later. From Betteravia the SMV built to Santa Maria and on to Roadamite. The SMV also had branches running from Stowell to Air Base, Suey to Rosemary Farms and Rex to Gates.
By 1925 the railway traffic had steeply declined and the railway went bankrupt. Captain George Allan Hancock http://www.hancockcollege.edu/Default.asp?Page=687, a principal of the Dominion Oil Company, purchased the railroad for $75,000 at a Sheriff's auction. The railroad was then reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad in 1926. To this day, the railroad is owned by Captain G. Allan Hancock's estate.
The original line ran for 23 miles, from Guadalupe to Roadamite. The track from Gates to Roadamite was abandoned in 1950.
The last run of No. 21, Captain Hancock's favorite steam locomotive, was in February 1962. Captain Hancock took the throttle one last time. Walt Disney was in the cab with Captain Hancock.
The Union Sugar Beet plant closed in 1993, ending the beet train era.
In 1999 the G. Allan Hancock Estate gained full control of the SMV. The assets of the railroad was sold to Coast Belle Rail Corporation in 2006, ending an 81 year ownership by the Hancock family.
Timeline
- July 14, 1911 Santa Maria Valley Railway organized
- August 23, 1911 grading commenced
- September 28, 1911 laying rails commenced
- March 15, 1912 construction completed
- October 7, 1911 first train operated
- 1926 Santa Maria Valley Railway reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
- 1950 track abandoned between Gates and Roadamite
- 2006 Purchased by the Coast Belle Rail Corp. from the descendants of G.A. Hancock family
- 2008 All track east of McClelland Street now vacated. Offices moved to Betteravia Industrial Park (at the site of the old sugar mill).
Main Route
- Guadalupe (interchange with UP - former SP) leased by SP to SMV
- Betteravia Junction
- Carr
- Pacer
- Midco
- Santa Maria
Gates Branch (abandoned)
- Rosemary (named after owner G. Allan Hancock's daughter)
- Rex
- Gates
- Roadamite (Gates - Roadamite abandoned in 1950)
Motive Power
The present SMV motive power fleet consists of 3 locomotives.- SMV #70 a GE 70-ton switcherGE 70-ton switcherThe GE 70-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between about 1942 and 1955. It is classified as a B-B type locomotive. The first series of "70 tonners" were a group of seven center cab locomotives built for the New York Central Railroad in November, 1942. These...
built in January 1950 (Builder No. 30381) acquired for operation in November 1972 from Fort Dodge DM&S - SMV #80 a GE 70-ton switcherGE 70-ton switcherThe GE 70-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between about 1942 and 1955. It is classified as a B-B type locomotive. The first series of "70 tonners" were a group of seven center cab locomotives built for the New York Central Railroad in November, 1942. These...
built in December 1953 (Builder No. 32207) acquired for parts for its fleet of 70-ton switchers in November 1972 from Fort Dodge DM&S - SMV #1801 and EMD GP9EMD GP9An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
built in June 1959 (Builder No. 25314)
The SMV operated five 70 ton switchers and one U6B that were acquired between 1948-1959.