With the upcoming motorcar excursion on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line this weekend I thought it would be a good time to post a photo essay from the recent inspection run conducted by the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway and Motorcar Operators West.

The day started with the arrival of members from Motorcar Operators West at Cement Plant Road in Davenport next to the Cemex Plant.





Before the motorcars could be set on to the track the switch for the industrial lead to the Cemex plant had to be unlocked. Unfortunately the switch and lock were corroded from disuse in the salt air along the coast and a pick was required to remove the lock along with a liberal application of chain lube to lubricate all the moving components of the switch.







Next the motorcars were unloaded and set on at the industrial lead that crosses Cement Plant Road.









Next they were pushed down the industrial lead to one of the tracks in the yard and assembled in a group.









After the motorcars were lined up, Jeff Weeks, General Manager for the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway, conducted a safety meeting and explained the itinerary for the inspection run.





One of the purposes of the inspection run was to clear the flange ways at private agriculture crossings that were fouled with mud.







In addition, the sand dune at Bonny Doon had built up again after being cleared the week before and needed to be cleared again.









Brush needed to be cleared too.





The motorcar group had hoped to arrive at the Boardwalk before the SCBT&P Beach Train, but that did not happen due to a late start and the removal of sand at Bonny Doon. We stopped at the wye and had lunch as we waited for the SCBT&P Beach Train to move off the Boardwalk.





It was not long before the SCBT&P Beach Train departed the Boardwalk and we waved to the crew and passengers as they passed by on their way to Felton.





With the Boardwalk cleared we preceded through the roundabout construction site and down Beach Street.




Moving along the Boardwalk past the Big Dipper.





Across the San Lorenzo Bridge.





After crossing the bridge at the yacht harbor we encountered a motorcar attack dog that challenged each motorcar as it passed by.





I love the many wooded sections along the branch line.





At one of the crossings a good friend of the person riding next to me came out to see the cars. It turned out to be someone who was my neighbor, but moved away. I had no idea he was interested in trains.







Heading down towards Capitola Village and across the Capitola Trestle.






Waiting to be flagged through the Monterey Ave. crossing by the old Capitola Depot.





Crossing the bridges over Soquel Drive on the approach to Aptos Village.







Hugging the shoreline as we crossed the new La Selva Beach Bridge.





Fallen trees across the ROW are a common occurrence above Harkins Slough and that day was no exception. This truly is a branch line.









Crossing Harkins Slough.





When we arrived at Watsonville the motorcars were turned at the SC&MB coach yard for the return trip to Davenport.





One of the motorcars required special handling due to its heavy weight.





On the return to Davenport we became separated from three of the cars and waited for them at the Seascape Resort.





As we waited for them to catch up we could hear the wonderful sound of the Nathan P3 horn mounted on Dave McClain’s motorcar as it passed through the crossings at Manresa, Camino Al Mar and the St. Francis Retreat.





They eventually arrived and we were back on our way again.





Cruising high above Capitola as we crossed the trestle over Soquel Creek.





Crossing the San Lorenzo River Bridge.





Arriving at the Boardwalk and stopping for a break.











After the break we headed down Beach Street and through the roundabout construction site.





Crossing Antonelli Pond. It had been a long day and everyone started to look tired.





There was still brush to clear so out came the shears and chain saws. There is no rest for the weary.











When we arrived back at Bonnie Doon the sand dune had covered the track again. It was late and it would take a while to clear the track and return to Davenport. My wife had been waiting at Davenport for over an hour to pick me up and she needed to get home ASAP. I called her and she came down from Davenport to pick me up at Bonny Doon. As I departed, the motorcar group was still shoveling and the sun was setting.