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South Pacific Coast Railroad

The narrow-gauge railroad that reached Los Gatos in 1877 and crossed the Santa Cruz Mountains to Santa Cruz in 1880, starting the town’s boom.

The line came from Alameda through San Jose. An 1888 county history dates Los Gatos’ real prosperity from its arrival. Crossing the mountains took two years and eight tunnels, and the summit tunnel alone cost about 30 lives.

Southern Pacific took it over in 1887. The mountain line closed after storm damage in 1940, and today the Los Gatos Creek Trail between Lexington Dam and downtown runs on its old bed.

Sources

Questions people ask

When did the railroad reach Los Gatos?

Early in 1877, according to the county histories of the 1880s.

Can you still see the old railroad?

Yes. The creek trail between Lexington Dam and downtown follows its old grade.

Related terms

  • Los Gatos Creek TrailA 9.7-mile walking and cycling trail along Los Gatos Creek from Lexington Reservoir, past Forbes Mill and through Vasona, to Meridian Avenue in San Jose.
  • Lexington and AlmaTwo mountain towns above Los Gatos, a sawmill town and a stage and rail stop, that were abandoned and flooded when Lexington Reservoir filled in 1952.
  • Town PlazaThe small downtown park at Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue, on the site of the old railroad station; home of Jazz on the Plazz, the farmers’ market and the holiday tree.
  • Billy Jones Wildcat RailroadA nonprofit 18-inch-gauge steam railroad in Oak Meadow and Vasona parks, founded on the prune ranch of Southern Pacific engineer Billy Jones and run in the parks since 1970.

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Downtown & Santa Cruz Avenue

Almond Grove & the Old Neighborhoods

Forbes Mill & the Civic Center

Los Gatos Creek Trail

Vasona Lake & Oak Meadow

Lexington Reservoir & the Mountains

The Novitiate & the Foothills

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