Mar 24
March 16, 1943 One of the many problems to be solved during the war was that of the German U-Boats. They threatened to choke off the sea-lanes between North America and Britain. Without advances in technology and tactics the war would not be won. Germany claimed they were starting the biggest sea blitz of the …
Feb 12
You may have wondered about the mysterious henge looming beside San Luis Creek in Avila Beach. It is one of the last remaining monuments to the dawn of modern Central Coast transportation, the Pacific Coast Railway. The concrete plinth was an underpinning to Bridge No. 5. The narrow gauge rails were in use for 66 …
Feb 11
Catching up where we left off before our when our microfilm machine was repaired… Feb. 1, 1943 Stalingrad was almost over after five months of house to house combat. Both the German Army and Air Force would suffer losses here that would be difficult to replace. A further debacle for the Nazi forces was developing …
Jan 22
Harold Guiton would be happy to see the depot in use today. He and other volunteers saved what is now the only remaining Southern Pacific Depot in the county. Paso Robles modernized and remodeled their depot after a fire so it is little like the original structure. San Luis Obispo bulldozed their wood frame depot. …
Jan 14
How many bridges are there across the Union Pacific tracks in San Luis Obispo today? One at Mill Street, two if you include the pedestrian Jennifer Street bridge. The railroad seems to prefer forcing automotive traffic under their right of way as at Highland, Monterey, Johnson and Tank Farm. Only Marsh, Orcutt and Cal Poly …
Jan 12
Sixteen stories were jammed onto the front page January 9, 1943. The new railroad station in San Luis Obispo was scheduled to start construction January 11. The new building was estimated to be $50,000 and a total cost of $96,000 to move the old wood frame building and tracks. A centralized traffic control system had …
Jan 08
Huell Howser had what many would consider a dream job, travel, access to interesting places. He was producer and host of a series of shows that highlighted the nature and history of California. He made the most of his opportunities throughout the state with a sense glee that put his subjects at ease and made …
Dec 29
Rationing would take effect as 1943 was about to dawn and in San Luis Obispo there was a run on canned meat. Local shoppers were suspected of hoarding. San Luis Obispo postmaster William C. O’Donnell said that Christmas volume was the highest ever. Special trains were scheduled to pick up the extra mail. Official word …
Nov 30
Automobile engines were what put the roar into the Roaring 20s. In San Luis Obispo a palace to the newfangled automobile was constructed between two monuments of the railway, it was called Exposition Park. The roundhouses for the Southern Pacific and the Pacific Coast Railway were near opposite ends of South Street. The narrow gauge …
Oct 01
•••••••• RAILFANS—The Central Coast Railroad Festival is coming Oct. 4-8, 2012. Events include five rail excursions and a first ever open house for the new San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum. ••••••••
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