Tidewater Southern Railway

Gallery.. 1960-1969

March, 1967.  Modesto, California.

Just as in electric and steam days, the Tidewater rarely had enough power to handle all its traffic and would rely on borrowed WP and SN power to move the tonnage.  Here, WP S2 559 switches at the College Avenue crossing in Modesto.  This location is near the junction for the TS' North Yard, an industrial district located just north of the Ninth Street trackage.  North Yard was abandoned in the late 1980's.

Gary B. Jones photo.

July, 1969.  Turlock, California.

Heading a short train through Turlock, TS first 745 has its tonnage well in hand.  Today, Turlock is still an important destination for TS trains, although the packing sheds and canneries of years past have given way to feed silos serving the giant chicken ranches in this part of the Central Valley.

Jim Shaw photo.

As with the nation, the 1960's were a time of change for the Tidewater.  A modern freight car fleet had been assembled in the second half of the 1950's, now the motive power situation changed again.  The GE diesels that had power TS trains since the end of the 1940's (along with 132, the last steamer, until 1955) began to disappear with the retirement of 70 tonner 741 in late 1964.  By late 1968, two Alco S2s, formerly of the Missouri Pacific, were on the roster, aided by Western Pacific Alcos and EMDs.  The road also embarked on a massive upgrading of its physical plant, rebuilding miles of its interurban mainline and many of its trestles while it retired depots and packing sheds.  Large capacity grain hoppers and big, insulated boxcars replaced the wood reefers and wine tanks of the past as the railroad became a modern, heavy-duty feeder for the WP.

December, 1961.  San Francisco, California.

The Tidewater's small fleet of freight cars spread the road's image far and wide in the 1960's.  Here, the 808, one of the last order of insulated RBL boxcars, is captured on the WP in San Francisco.

W. C. Whittaker photo.  Dave Stanley collection.

March, 1969.  Modesto, California.

TS first 744, an Alco S2 from the Missouri Pacific, is "heading 'em out" in the spring of 1969.  Orange Alcos were now the norm on the TS, both the road's own and those of parent WP.  The last GE, 70 tonner 743, had been retired the previous fall.

Henry W. Bruekman photo.

April 23, 1966.  Atlanta, California.

Pausing, probably for a photo run-by, TS 70 tonner 743 pulls the last excursion to operate on the railroad.  This set of 10 heavyweight cars came over the WP from Oakland behind two F7s, but little 743 is enough power here in the flat valley.  The stalwart GE has only 2 more years in California before retirement and sale to a shortline (also a former electric road) in Iowa.

photographer unknown.  Ken Meeker collection.