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Re: SMART Uses Creosote-Soaked Ties To Pollute Marin
Author: fkrock
Date: 02-22-2015 - 09:53
synonymouse Wrote:
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> If you cannot afford the wire, you cannot afford a
> train.
>
> How ever did the McNears build the P&SR, wire and
> all, in 1903, with their own money?
>
Interurbans were the latest modern fad at one time when automobiles were unreliable and roads were poor outside of towns. Although P&SR was not built by an interurban evangelist, many promoters traveled around the country promoting interurbans in exchange for partial ownership of the line. Local property owners were conned into buying bonds to build interurbans. Farmers often donated land for right of ways because it increased the value of their farms.
Interurbans were very much cheaper to build and operate than steam railroads. The could operate on sharper curves and steeper grades than steam railroads. They could be built in city streets and alongside country roads so land cost was much lower than steam railroads. Interurbans did not require expensive shops to maintain steam locomotives. So the McNears got railroad service badly needed in the area for much less total coast than building a steam railroad. Lots of eggs came to market and chicken feed went to farmers on P&SR. The McNears were in the egg and chicken feed business.
As internal combustion engines were improved, a few lines such as The Modesto and Empire Traction Company that were planned as electric lines never put up wire. Doodlebugs supplied passenger service.
According to Professor Hilton in his definitive book "The Electric Interurban Railways in America" (Stanford University Press 1960), no interurban line ever paid for itself and the few that survived did so with public money.
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you cannot afford the wire, you cannot afford a
> train.
>
> How ever did the McNears build the P&SR, wire and
> all, in 1903, with their own money?
>
Interurbans were the latest modern fad at one time when automobiles were unreliable and roads were poor outside of towns. Although P&SR was not built by an interurban evangelist, many promoters traveled around the country promoting interurbans in exchange for partial ownership of the line. Local property owners were conned into buying bonds to build interurbans. Farmers often donated land for right of ways because it increased the value of their farms.
Interurbans were very much cheaper to build and operate than steam railroads. The could operate on sharper curves and steeper grades than steam railroads. They could be built in city streets and alongside country roads so land cost was much lower than steam railroads. Interurbans did not require expensive shops to maintain steam locomotives. So the McNears got railroad service badly needed in the area for much less total coast than building a steam railroad. Lots of eggs came to market and chicken feed went to farmers on P&SR. The McNears were in the egg and chicken feed business.
As internal combustion engines were improved, a few lines such as The Modesto and Empire Traction Company that were planned as electric lines never put up wire. Doodlebugs supplied passenger service.
According to Professor Hilton in his definitive book "The Electric Interurban Railways in America" (Stanford University Press 1960), no interurban line ever paid for itself and the few that survived did so with public money.
