VISALIA ELECTRIC RAILROAD HAD A ROCKY START, BUT A LONG RUN Photo here: [media.fresnobee.com] Caption reads: The Visalia Electric Railroad Co. incorporated in 1904 but didn't begin operation until four years later. The company initially experienced a series of setbacks, but operations soon smoothed out. FRESNO, CA -- The Visalia Electric Railroad Co. incorporated in 1904, but it took several years to get everything in order. In 1908, the electric line was finally ready, or so they thought. The kickoff of the railroad created a lot of excitement in Tulare County. Initially, the line connected the towns of Visalia, Exeter and Lemon Cove, but eventually it would link other communities, making travel between towns easy and affordable. The Visalia Electric's trial run began in Exeter on March 3. Packed with excited company officials, it arrived at the Visalia depot at Church and Oak streets at about 16:00 hours. After a short stay, the train whistle blew, and the quiet electric train began its return to Exeter. As it approached Garden Street, a two-horse buggy rig occupied by Mrs. J. W. Clark and a friend entered the intersection from the south. Just as the horses began crossing the tracks, the buggy driver saw the oncoming train and pulled the animals sharply to the right. The animals were spared, but the left front buggy wheel was not. No one was injured, but the buggy riders and horses were badly shaken. The buggy wheel was dislodged from beneath the train, and the train continued on to Exeter. Responsibility for the accident seemed to land clearly with the motorman (train operator). As the train left the Visalia depot, the motorman sounded the whistle but failed to sound the bell. More problems were in store for this new company. On March 4, one of the cables used to keep the overhead electrical lines taut snapped, causing the high-voltage electric line near the depot to fall to the ground. Anyone touching the high voltage line would have been electrocuted. Fortunately, Visalia night watchman W. H. Anderson was quickly on the scene, keeping people away until the line could be repaired. Yet another disappointment followed. On March 10, the Daily Visalia Delta published the train schedule to take effect immediately. There would be seven trips daily in and out of Visalia with stops in Exeter and Lemon Cove. Schedule in place, the next day Visalia well-wishers waited to greet the train, but it did not arrive. It had made it only as far as Lemon Cove. The first few days of the Visalia Electric had been difficult, but on March 12, the first scheduled Visalia train arrived to a cheering crowd. The company was off and running. Visalia Electric service expanded over the years with additional stops, including Farmersville, Red Banks, Woodlake, Elderwood and Terminus Beach. In 1944, new technology was introduced to the line. The Exeter Sun newspaper announced on Nov. 23 a dramatic change to the railroad. "Hydroelectric power has been replaced by diesel electric engines on the Visalia Electric Railroad after 40 years of operation," it reported. The overhead lines came down, but train service continued. Despite its rocky start, the railroad continued to operate until 1990. Over eight decades of freight and passenger service earned it a place in Tulare County history. - Terry Ommen, The Fresno Bee
Strange. I'd tend to believe that if they didn't hear the whistle, they'd have also ignored a bell. mg: Boxcab E50
