#637 • The Last Whistle

Part of November 2026 Railroad Book and Slide Auction (timed auction by Rail & Road Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 30, 2026 7:38 PM EST

THE LAST WHISTLE [Ocean Shore Railroad] by JACK R WAGNER 180 fine photographs, maps and drawings Equipment rosters Rugged, soaring cliffs and ocean vistas made the California coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz the obvious place to build a scenic railroad. About the Author So, at the turn of the century visionary group of local men determined that here would create Jack R Wagner has traveled extensively, studying and observing his native state of California and seek- a high-speed commuter to serve the growing towns and fresh oceah beaches this breathtaking out short-line railroads everywhere. A San Francisco broadcasting executive, he still reserves ing route. A blue-blood board of directors, including J. Downey, Harvey and Folger, the Coffee time to engage in historical research, writing and photography: His articles on the West have appeared vigorously promoted the Ocean Shore Railway and in True, Railroad Magazine, Western Railroader and related real estate schemes. Western Mining Journal, and his previous book for When the earthquake of 1906 tossed most of the Howell-North, Gold Mines of California, depicts the into the sea, it upset all their plans The Ocean Shore never quite recovered from the blow. heyday of recovery operations. The dream of electric cars gliding down double-track line was dashed; instead, secondhand steam engines were acquired from older short lines: GOLD Bankruptcy foredoomed completion of the route; and MINES SO northern division carried city crowds to the of california - ocean while in the south logging trains brought redwood timber to Santa Cruz. For decade this jack R Waener valiant short line fought rocks, lawsuits, strikes and Southern Pacific $ competition. The dream lived on until final courtroom showdown gave the right of way to the Highway Department for the most scenic stretches of Route 1 The Last Whistle is the of a gallant failure, of practical men and dreamers who would do every- but quit. Its richly history (180 illustrations) shows disastrous iandslides, holiday crowds at depots, the boiler of old stock of the Kowloon Canton Railway, which he at the unique of visited on a recent trip to Southeast Asia. No. 2 and views of the impossible right way. Howell] North Books 1050 PARKER STREET BERKELEY CALIFORNIA 94710 they line busy along King; grade gold_ spotless falling story long pictorial thing rolling exploded. Jack Russell Wagner