Tidewater Southern Railway
Franzia Winery Excursion: April 17, 1966
On April 17th, 1966, the Western Pacific and Tidewater Southern hosted an all day excursion from Oakland to the Franzia Winery along the Tidewater. Tales of this trip come to us courtesy of John "Stash" Stashik and "Key Route" Ken Shattock, who were both present for what appears to have been a very interesting day.
"Key Route Ken"...
"How many of you folks remember the fantastic 'Tidewater Southern' All- Heavyweight Passenger Train excursion that was operated back in the late 60's?? ALL of the equipment HAD to have 6-Wheel
Trucks!! The train left the WP station in Oakland at 3rd & Washington streets and traveled to Stockton via WP and Altamont Pass. At Stockton (Ortega), the train was turned over to the Tidewater Southern crews. The
routing of the train from Stockton was thru Modesto and on down to Turlock. The destination was a day at the "Franzia Bros Winery" !! "On the return leg of the trip, this heavyweight train had to stop in downtown Modesto so
that adequate FOOD and DRINK (libation) could be gathered from nearby stores and markets. The train never got back to Oakland until after 10:00 PM that evening. It was a VERY long day for the railfan celebrants."
"Key Route Ken"...
"Seems like (the name) was the "Blossom Time Special" or something similar!!! The TS 70-tonner # 743 that 'Stash' mentions must have had its work cut out for itself--maybe the trackage did, too!!"
Take a careful look at Mr. Stashik's picture of the train going over the Stanislaus River bridge. Little 743 has 10(!) heavyweight passenger cars stretched out behind its drawbar. "Key Route Ken" isn't kidding about the engine having its work cut out.
"Stash"...
"The excursion began at the Western Pacific station on Third Street in Oakland and ran over Altamont Pass to Ortega. From that
point we were on the TS and stopped for lunch and a tour at the Franzia Winery before continuing to Turlock and returning to Oakland. "It was too long ago for my recollection of a stop on Ninth Street in Modesto. I do recall waiting
for clearance at the SP interlocking. "Power on the WP were F units to my foggy recollection. The passenger count was heavy and the long train turned more than a few heads along the Tidewater Southern that day. "Included in the consist:
Circumnavigator's Club, a Santa Fe heavyweight Snack Car, UP heavyweight observation 1536, NWP coach 458, WP 653 -- all vintage stuff owned by clubs and used on excursions of the era. Fun times."
In the 1950's and 60's, several excursions were run over the Tidewater Southern, including two
featuring a WP RDC and one from Oakland where TS 2-6-2 132 was the power for the entire trip. This excursion appears to have been the last ever operated on the Tidewater. Thanks to Stash and Key Route Ken for sharing this great
story and Stash and Gary B. Jones for their priceless photos!
Ten cars full of happy railfans follow TS 70-tonner 743 across the big Stanislaus River bridge south of Modesto. The little GE has probably never had an assignment like this before. It is interesting to note that the WP probably assigned at least 2 F7s to the pull the same train over Altamont Pass!
-photo by John Stashik
TS 743 rests at the Franzia Winery. The scrappy 70-tonner still
survives, the last SN/ TS 70 in existence. Coupled to the GE is Union Pacific 1536, a preserved observation car familiar from many 1960's fan trips.
WP 653 brings up
the markers. This beautiful Pullman lounge-observation car can be seen today at the Bay Area Electric Railway Association museum at Rio Vista Junction.
"Stash"...
"That was a special TS train and yours truly was aboard it. It was one of several great BAERA excursions as I recall. "I took some photos with my Kodak box camera
(shown here). TS 743 was a 70-tonner than pulled the train. Also in the consist was WP 653 (which saw use on many fan trips) and the Circumnavigators Club."
Heading southbound, the excursion is caught coming off Ninth Street at the
Modesto Freight House. Soon the train will cross the Tuolumne River Bridge.
TS 743 holds up traffic heading through Turlock,
including a local commuter on a tricycle!
Complete with drumhead, a proper observation car brings up the markers as
the special heads through Turlock.
Pausing at the Turlock Depot, the riders get a chance to photograph both the train and this
classic stucco structure. Build for both freight and passenger service, excursion riders were the only fares that ever used the depot.