Visalia Electric Railroad facts for kids
Visalia Electric No. 502 GE 44-ton switcher
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| Overview | |
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| Headquarters | Visalia, California |
| Locale | Tulare County, California |
| Dates of operation | 1904–1992 |
| Successor | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| Technical | |
| Length | 68 miles (109 km) |
The Visalia Electric Railroad was a special kind of train line in Tulare County, California. It started as an electric interurban railroad, which means it carried both people and goods between towns. This railroad was owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP).
The Visalia Electric Railroad began on April 22, 1904. It was unique because it used an unusual electric power system. This system was a test for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Passenger service stopped in 1924, and the electric power was removed in 1944. After that, the trains ran on diesel locomotives. The railroad finally closed in 1992.
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How the Visalia Electric Railroad Started
The idea for the Visalia Electric Railroad came from the need to connect towns. In 1874, a short train line was built from Goshen to Visalia. This line was later leased to the Southern Pacific Railroad. By 1898, the tracks reached Exeter.
Around this time, a newspaper editor named Ben M. Maddox had a big idea. He wanted to use hydroelectric power from the Kaweah River. This power could light up homes and run machines. In 1899, the Mount Whitney Power Company began providing electricity.
Ben Maddox then thought, "Why not use this extra power for an electric train?" In 1900, John Hays Hammond and Albert G. Wishon also suggested an electric railroad. This led to the creation of the Visalia Electric Railroad Company in 1904.
Building the Railroad and Its Electric Power
Construction of the Visalia Electric Railroad began on February 14, 1905. The first section, from Exeter to Lemon Cove, opened in 1906 using steam trains. On February 22, 1908, the line from Visalia to Lime Kiln was electrified. This meant trains could now run on electricity.
The railroad used special electric trains. These trains had pantographs on their roofs to collect power. They got their power from overhead wires carrying 3,300 Volts of 15 Hz AC. The trains converted this AC power to DC power for their motors.
The main station in Visalia was important for both the Visalia Electric and Southern Pacific trains. In Exeter, offices, a power station, and a train shed were built. These became the main center for the railroad's operations.
The line expanded over time. In 1909, it reached Redbanks, which was a gateway to Sequoia National Park. Later, in 1916-1918, the line extended south to Strathmore. This part of the line was not electric. It used special gas-electric locomotives.
How the Visalia Electric Railroad Operated
Electric train service officially started on March 10, 1908. For many years, the railroad ran on electricity. However, on November 11, 1944, all electric operations ended. The copper wires that carried the electricity were removed. This copper was needed for wartime efforts.
After 1944, the railroad used diesel locomotives. Two GE 44-ton switchers, numbered 501 and 502, took over the freight trains. Later, other diesel locomotives from Southern Pacific were used.
The Visalia Electric Railroad was very important for moving farm products. It transported huge amounts of oranges, plums, peaches, lemons, and grapes. This area was one of the richest farming regions in the country. At its busiest, the railroad could ship up to 44 train carloads of produce every day during harvest season.
At its largest, the Visalia Electric Railroad had two main lines. The electric line ran for 29 miles from Visalia to Redbanks. It also had smaller branches to Terminus and Elderwood. The non-electric line went south for almost 18 miles from Exeter to Strathmore.
The Railroad's Decline and End
The number of passengers riding the Visalia Electric Railroad began to drop after 1912. More people started using cars on better roads. Because of this, passenger service was stopped on August 31, 1924. The electric wires between Visalia and Exeter were removed in 1925.
Freight shipments also started to decline in the 1940s. More and more goods were being moved by trucks. The Southern Pacific Railroad also became less interested in meeting the strict schedules needed for fresh produce. This made it harder for farmers to ship their goods by train.
Sections of the railroad began to close down over time. The line from Strathmore to El Mirador was abandoned in 1942. Other parts closed in the 1950s and 1970s. The last train ran on September 6, 1990. The railroad officially requested to close down on August 7, 1992.
Images for kids
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Visalia Electric Railroad train, 1910
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Rail terminus for Sequoia NP
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