The Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc. has teamed up with the Bay Area Electric Railroaders’ Association (BAERA) in helping to sell their Journal Number Two, Spring 2007.
This very fine work is edited by BAERA’s Chairman, Archives Department Bart Nadeau and produced under the guidance of Dr. Walter Rice, BAERA’s Chairman of their Journal Committee. This 92-page, 8.5x11-inch journal concentrates on six articles written by six different authors about highly interesting aspects of electric railroading in the Bay Area. There is also an introduction giving a dedication to the people who started our sister organization in San Francisco. Of course, there are plenty of very interesting black and white photographs, of high quality.
Most enthusiasts of electric railroads know very well about events concerning the continuation of trolleys in the City of San Francisco, particularly the Trolley Festivals, the continued use of Market Street for streetcar use, the development and purchase of modern light rail vehicles as well as the refurbishment of PCC cars and the purchase of additional ones in conjunction with Muni’s new F and E lines.
However, frequently there is a gap in the knowledge of the full history of electric transit service in The City by the Bay. Interest develops in the almost 100-year old municipal operation and the running of trolleys and cable cars under the private Market Street Railway. This journal addresses the gaps many of us have in in more-complete information about San Francisco. The articles give viewpoints from a variety of sources, top management and labor. There is a fine look at the Key System and how streetcar transportation to/from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition was handled, a look is given into the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad operation in 1924, predecessor of the Sacramento Northern. Rare is the story of the California Street Railroad and the John Hammond Car Company’s connection to the Emerald City, Seattle.
Since each of the six articles is written by different authors, there is a great variety to its presentation style. But what is most important is that our members have the opportunity of having this fantastic publication in their own personal libraries. This handsome and highly informative work is a must for anyone even slightly interested in electric railroads in the Bay Area because the information contained in it cannot be easily found in other places. The Journal will compliment anything else you have in your library concerning the subject of Bay Area traction.
The Journal is $20 in the US and $27 for Canada and all other countries. Unfortunately, this higher price must be charged in order to cover the expense of mailing out of the country. Don’t be disappointed; fill out the coupon today and send it to us along with your check or money order. No cash, please.