The line was constructed as the Santa Cruz Railroad between 1873–1876 and was laid with narrow gauge rail. After foreclosure, it was sold to Southern Pacific (through a subsidiary Pacific Improvement Company) who converted the line to standard gauge and operated until the merger into Southern Pacific on May 14, 1888. The 3.7-mile (6.0 km) Aptos branch from Aptos to Loma Prieta was built as the Loma Prieta Railroad in 1883 and abandoned in 1928.[5]
Panoramic view from the railway at Soquel Drive and Spreckles Drive in Aptos
County ownership
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission purchased the rail corridor in 2012.[8] At that time, freight operations were contracted out to Iowa Pacific Holdings, commencing service in November 2012. In 2018, Progressive Rail, Inc. was chosen as the replacement freight operator under a 10-year contract.[9] The use the name St. Paul and Pacific for the operations. The Transportation Commission is studying the possibility of rehabilitating the rail line for a new commuter rail service or rebuilding the corridor for bus rapid transit.[8] A demonstration streetcar operated over the branch in October 2021.[10] The line sustained major damage in the 2022-2023 storms.[11] in June 2024, the public was given a chance to weigh in on future passenger rail and a trail.[12] The plan could include rerouted sections and an elevated portion at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.[13]
Route
The right of way begins at Watsonville Junction, where it interchanges with Union Pacific's Coast Line. The line features street running sections in Watsonville and Santa Cruz where trains interact directly with roadway traffic. The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway operates part of its heritage railway service along SCMB tracks from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to that railroad's main line east of the Beach Street roundabout, before turning onto its own tracks at the Santa Cruz Wye towards Felton on the former South Pacific Coast Railroad mainline. After leaving Santa Cruz, the line runs parallel to California State Route 1 until Davenport, where the tracks end.
References
^"Rail Guide". rail.guide. Retrieved September 21, 2024.