"Central California Traction had its origins in 1902 as a streetcar service in Stockton, CA. Conceived by Howard H. Griffiths to compete against Stockton's venerable, narrow-gauge Stockton Electric RR, Griffiths' vision became reality in 1905 with the incorporation of the Central California Traction Co. Modern, standard-gauge electric cars began serving the San Joaquin Valley's inland port city with connections to the steam trains of the SP, the young ATSF, and the forthcoming WP. As fate would have it, these three companies would become owners of the CCT in January 1928. "Electric interurban passenger service to Lodi began in 1907 as ownership of the CCT was passed on from Griffiths to wealthy entrepreneurs Herbert and Mortimer Fleishhacker. Further expansion to Sacramento was completed in 1910, with both passenger and freight services offered over the 53-mile line. Soon, 48 daily passenger trains were listed in the timetable, all propelled by a 1,200-volt dc third-rail, the first installation of its kind in the United States. "Although the Stockton streetcar service was a financial failure, a similar service operated by CCT in Sacramento proved successful and ran from 1910 until 1946. Interurban passenger service ended in 1933, even as freight business grew substantially. In 1946, diesel locomotives replaced the 'juice jacks.' Now, 101 years after its groundbreaking, the CCT continues to operate as an important freight carrier and retains its corporate identity. "The 626 photos, 23 maps, numerous ephemera and graphics, equipment drawings, rosters, and numerous sidebars richly document the story. The company's interaction with its parent railroads as well as with the Sacramento Northern, Stockton Terminal & Eastern, and Tidewater Southern Railways are documented as well."
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Required reading for model railroaders and urban history lovers,
This review is from: The Central California Traction Company: California's Last Interurban (Hardcover)
This is one of the best-produced railroad books I have ever seen. It is more than a history, it is a tour through a vibrant community during the 20's and 30's, with numerous photos, maps, and details that bring the cities to life.
Stockton and Sacramento may not be New York or Boston during the 20's to 50's, but understanding what was going on in the cities of their sizes--economically, architecturally, and transportation-wise--is important to an understanding of the era. Central California Traction is painstakingly laid out, the photographs are perfectly scanned, and the format is large enough to do justice to the numerous photos. Unlike the sterile "builders shots" frequently found, the photos in Central California Traction include the environment--buildings and street scenes--as well as people. I consider this one of the top railroad books in my collection--which has been growing since the 60's. It's a "must have" for model railroaders looking for "real world" inspiration, and will delight those who love Northern California history.
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