Tidewater Southern Railway
Surviving Equipment and Structures
Considering the railroad's small size, control by a larger road, and time since it had any equipment of its own, a surprisingly large amount of TS rolling stock survives, including one example of each type of diesel the road owned, at least two interurban cars and three of the last four cabooses the road owned. However, very few items are in museums, most being privately owned.
Jewett Interurban Combine 200 Preserved unrestored by the Bay Area Electric Railway Association at the Western Railroad Museum . It is hoped that this classic car can be restored in the future.
Jewett Interurban Combine 202 Still sitting south of Modesto in 1979. Reports indicate that one side was very damaged. In recent years, it was built into part of a barn and the front is still visible as a "bay window" on the structure.
a little bit of GE Steeplecab 106While this unit was scrapped, near twin Sacramento Northern 654 still rolls around the Western Railway Museum sporting the 106's trucks.
Boiler of Baldwin 2-6-2 32/132An intriguing news article from 1956 indicates that this steamer was not completely scrapped, but had its boiler and frame sold to a mine south of Winnemuca, Nevada. Could it still be there?
UPDATE: Site visitor Tom Irion reports that a 1955 Oakland Tribune photo shows the 32/132 in a scrapyard with the boiler shell removed from the firebox forward. This would have rendered the locomotive useless for stationary
boiler service and almost certainly means it was completely scrapped. The boiler reported sold to the mine was probably from a different locomotive, perhaps a WP 2-8-0.
GE 44 tonner 135/735Is sitting in a scrapyard in Kansas City, Missouri, still wearing Zephyr paint. The owners are asking a very high price for this little engine.
GE 70 tonner 743Proudly owned and operated by the Dakota Southern Railroad. Its their pride and joy.
Alco S2 745:2 - GONEThe hanger queen of the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad, this ex-WP S2 wore fading Tidewater orange. Stripped of many parts, she was truly a decrepit looking locomotive just inches from the scrapyard. Finally, in mid-March 2008, time caught up with the 745 and 5 other WP Alcos.
Alco RS1 746Privately owned and stored in Willits, California, the 746 wears the livery of later owner Central California Traction Company.
Cornucopia Boxcars 520 and 521Both of these cars are preserved by the Feather River Rail Society at the Portola Railroad Museum. The 520 is partly repainted into her TS Cornucopia colors, while the other car wears MOW silver. It is WP MW 37-10, originally TS 521.
Possible Survivors
Cornucopia Boxcar 512 Some boxcars from the TS were reported to be in use as storage at the Portola (CA) High School in the late 1980's, possibly 601 or 801 series cars. A recent investigation located the two cars at a business park off California State Highway 70 about 6 miles east of Portola, near the town of Beckwourth. One is a WP 37000 series car, the other is TS 512 Cornucopia car. The extremely faded outline of the logo is still visible. A check with a worker at the business revealed that these were in fact the cars from the high school. He kindly allowed an inspection of the 512 which revealed its identity and a close look at the remains of the Cornucopia logo, as well as other details of its construction.
Caboose 305Formerly at a trailer park in Waterford, California, soon to be displayed in Modesto on TS right of way.
Caboose 307
Caboose 308Loved and beautifully restored by a private owner in Modesto, CA. It is used as a guest house on his property.
Bunk Car 0565-H Formerly privately owned and stored off trucks in Sacramento, CA, it has now been donated to the
Surviving Depots and Structures The depot in Turlock still stands, as does the yard
office in south Modesto and the Stockton Hotel, site of the joint TS/CCT terminal in Stockton. The Stockton Hotel is currently being restored and rennovated.
