Tidewater Southern Railway

Gallery.. 1950-1959

March 31, 1951.  McHenry, California.

During the 1950's, several excursions were run on the TS line.  One memorable spring day found WP RDC-2 375 taking a spin down to Turlock.  At Meyers, a Mother's Cookies driver failed to stop and the heavier vehicle won.  The RDC brushed the little red truck right off the crossing.  I am told that no one was seriously injured and that the trip continued after a short stop.

"After the collision with the Mother's Cookies truck, the tension was thick in the air as fans surveyed the damage.  One Stanley Snook took a long look around and broke the ice by remarking loudly, in a disapproving tone, 'Mother's not going to like this!'"

--Ted Rose as told to him by his father, Al Rose

Fred Matthews Jr. photos, Ken Meeker collection.

Coming soon.

April 27, 1952.  Altamont, California.

Another excursion, but this time 132 gets the honors, running all the way from Oakland and here meeting the California Zephyr on Altamont Pass.  By this date, 132 was one of a handful of active steamers on WP lines.  Research indicates it may have been the last one in revenue service on the WP system, possibly outlasting WP's own by almost 2 years.

Fred Matthews Jr. photo?, Ken Meeker collection.