View source for Golden Gate (train)

{{Short description|Santa Fe Railway passenger service}}
{{italic title}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 290px
| name            = ''Golden Gate''
| color           = FF0000
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = Golden Gate Santa Fe train.JPG
| image_width     = 290px
| caption         = The ''Golden Gate'' {{circa|1938}}
| type            = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status          = 
| locale          = [[California]]
| predecessor     = 
| first           = July 1, 1938
| last            = April 28, 1968
| successor       = ''[[San Joaquins]]''
| operator        = 
| formeroperator  = [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]
| ridership       = 
| ridership2      = 
| start           = [[Oakland, California|Oakland]]
| stops           = 7
| end             = [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]]
| distance        = 
| journeytime     = 9 hours 25 minutes
| frequency       = Daily
| trainnumber     = 60/61/62/63
| line_used       = 
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = Chair cars
| sleeping        = 
| catering        = Lunch-counter dining car
| observation     = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = Baggage car
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = 
| gauge           = {{track gauge|ussg}}
| el              = 
| speed           = {{convert|53.3|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 
| map             = {{Santa Fe Golden Gate}}
| map_state       = 
}}
The '''''Golden Gate''''' was one of the [[List of named passenger trains|named]] [[train|passenger trains]] of the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] (Santa Fe). It ran on the railroad's [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Valley Division|Valley Division]] between Oakland and Bakersfield, California;<ref>{{cite book| title=Operations Santa Fé| first=Merle| last=Armitage| page=124| year=1984| edition=reprint| orig-year=1948| editor-first=Edwin| editor-last=Corle| publisher=Omni Publications| location=Hawthorne, CA}}</ref> its bus connections provided service between [[San Francisco]] and [[Los Angeles]] via [[California]]'s [[San Joaquin Valley]].

==History==
In 1911, the Santa Fe tried to compete with [[Southern Pacific Railroad Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] (SP) with overnight trains that included cars to and from [[San Diego]], the '''''Saint''''' train to San Francisco and the '''''Angel''''' train to Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Santa Fe runs trains to south |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-bulletin-santa-fe-runs-tra/135505047/ |access-date=20 November 2023 |newspaper=San Francisco Bulletin |via=Newspapers.com |date=December 1, 1911 |page=15}} {{free access}}</ref> The Santa Fe route via [[San Bernardino]] and [[Barstow, California|Barstow]] was longer than the SP route via [[Glendale, California|Glendale]] and [[Lancaster, California|Lancaster]] and the San Francisco to Los Angeles schedule was 16 hours 45 minutes, compared to 14:45 for SP's ''Owl'' and 13:45 for the ''Lark''. The ''Saint'' and ''Angel'' were withdrawn in 1918.{{sfnp|Duke|Kistler|1963|pp=63, 65}}  Although rumors soon flew of their return,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57900761/san-bernardino-news/| title=Put On Saint and Angel| newspaper=San Bernardino News| date=December 26, 1918| page=3| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> Santa Fe later cited competition by bus services as preventing restoration of the ''Saint'' and ''Angel'' schedules.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57900203/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/| title=Bus Halts Return of Saint, Angel| newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun| date=March 1, 1922| page=12| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

In 1936 the completion of improvements on the [[Ridge Route]] highway south of [[Bakersfield]] and the [[San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge]] gave the Santa Fe an opportunity to compete with the SP with faster service. The lightweight ''Golden Gate'' [[streamliner]]s were assigned Nos.{{nbsp}}60&ndash;63 and ran daily between [[Oakland]] (station was actually in [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]]) and Bakersfield. Santa Fe buses connected San Francisco across the [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge]] to Oakland and between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, most with stops at [[North Hollywood]] and [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] and some with stops at [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], Glendale, and [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]. The Oakland transfer point moved to [[Richmond, California|Richmond]] in 1958 with buses making stops at Oakland and [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]].{{sfnp|Duke|Kistler|1963|pp=99-101}}

A competitor to the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad's]] ''[[San Joaquin Daylight]]'', the ''Golden Gate's'' scheduled 9-hour and 25-minute time bested that of the ''Daylight''. After a series of hearings and legal challenges, as well as public displays of the new rolling stock,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57897923/oakland-tribune/| title=Santa Fe to Show Train| first=Frank| last=Kester| newspaper=Oakland Tribune| date=May 27, 1938| page=39| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> the new six-car consists entered service on July 1, 1938.<ref>{{cite news |title=Santa Fe Begins Rail-Bus Run |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-santa-fe-begi/135514870/ |access-date=20 November 2023 |newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 1, 1938 |page=9}} {{free access}}</ref> Coach fares were $6.00 one-way,<ref>{{harvnb|Bryant|Frailey|2020}}{{page needed|date=November 2023}}</ref> $10.80 round-trip, rates that were matched by the SP. San Francisco to Los Angeles was 312.8 rail miles ({{convert|312.8|mi|km|disp=out}}) plus 112 bus miles ({{convert|112|mi|km|disp=out}}).

In early 1939, the ''Golden Gate'' was involved in what was believed to be the first collision between a modern [[streamliner|streamlined]] train and an automobile when it was struck by a car in [[Richmond, California|Richmond]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57895174/the-press-democrat/| title=Auto Hits Crack Train| agency=United Press| date=January 20, 1939| newspaper=The Press Democrat| location=Santa Rosa, CA| page=3| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> In 1939 another train, the ''[[Valley Flyer (ATSF train)|Valley Flyer]]'', was added to the Bakersfield-Oakland route{{sfnp|Duke|Kistler|1963|pp=102-103}} to carry passengers to the [[Golden Gate International Exposition]]. In 1940 the Exposition ended and this train moved to the San Diego to Los Angeles route.

Citing losses of up to $421,000 in 1963 ({{inflation|US|421000|1963|fmt=eq}}), the Santa Fe applied to discontinue the ''Golden Gate''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57896665/the-sacramento-bee/| title=Rail Losses Are Declared Higher Than PUC Estimates| agency=Associated Press| newspaper=The Sacramento Bee| date=November 17, 1964| page=18| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> The California Public Utilities Commission held hearings on the discontinuance of the service in 1964<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57894975/the-selma-enterprise/| title=PUC Hearing On Trains Is Today| newspaper=The Selma Enterprise| location=Selma, CA| date=October 15, 1964| page=11| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> and authorized discontinuance of the service in March 1965 stating that "the public reaction [to discontinuing the service] was apathetic to say the least."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57894276/the-los-angeles-times/| title=San Joaquin Valley Rail Service Cuts Approved| newspaper=The Los Angeles Times| date=March 4, 1965| page=3| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57895629/the-hanford-sentinel/| title=Santa Fe Train Cut Permitted| agency=UPI| newspaper=The Hanford Sentinel| location=Hanford, CA| date=March 3, 1965| page=1| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> Yet just seven years earlier in 1957, passenger feedback was cited as the reason to adjust the ''Golden Gate'' timetable about one hour earlier in the day.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57895904/oakland-tribune/| title=Santa Fe Train to Change Schedule| newspaper=Oakland Tribune| location=Oakland, CA| date=July 10, 1957| page=3| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> The ''Golden Gate'' was all but eliminated on April 11, 1965,<ref name=owlblinks>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57896349/the-fresno-bee-the-republican/| title=The Owl Blinks For Final Time On Fresno Track| newspaper=The Fresno Bee| date=April 12, 1965| page=17| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> though No. 62 was reassigned as No. 8 and took over the duties of the southbound ''Fast Mail Express''. That service ended April 28, 1968. {{As of|1974|since=y}} [[Amtrak California|Amtrak California's]] ''[[San Joaquin (Amtrak)|San Joaquin]]'' runs the same route from [[Port Chicago, California|Port Chicago]] to Bakersfield.

===Timeline===
{{prose|section|date=November 2023}}
* January 20, 1912: The Santa Fe begins service between Los Angeles and San Francisco via Barstow and Bakersfield with overnight trains with through cars from/to San Diego, the ''Saint'' northbound and the ''Angel'' southbound.
* December 31, 1918: The ''Saint'' and the ''Angel'' are discontinued.
* October 8, 1935: The Santa Fe applies for permission from the [[California Public Utilities Commission|Railroad Commission of the State of California]] to operate "''one-ticket, point-to-point, streamlined train service''" between San Francisco and Bakersfield, with coordinated motor coach (bus) service extending the route south to Los Angeles.
* November 12, 1936: The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge opens.
* July 1, 1938: Santa Fe's coordinated rail-bus service starts.
* June 11, 1939: The ''Valley Flyer'' is added to the route to serve the Golden Gate International Exposition.
* 1940: The ''Golden Gate'' consists expand to seven cars with the addition of two "chair" cars.
* 1940-1941 ''Valley Flyer'' reassigned to service between San Diego and Los Angeles.
* 1942: Consist expands to 7 cars, and each logs 626 daily miles ({{convert|626|mi|km|disp=out}}).
* July 1949: ''Valley''-type 6-6-4 sleeping cars are added to train Nos. 60 and 61.
* 1957: Train Nos. 62 and 63 add railway post office cars to their consists.
* 1958: round-end observation cars are discontinued.
* February 2, 1958: Train No. 61 is withdrawn from service.
* June 15, 1958: rail service is cut back from Oakland to [[Richmond, California|Richmond]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Santa Fe Passenger Terminal Shifts to Richmond Tomorrow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-santa-fe-passenger-termi/98298803/ |access-date=20 November 2023 |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |date=June 15, 1958 |page=52}} {{free access}}</ref>
* April 11, 1965: Train Nos. 60 and 63 are withdrawn<ref name=owlblinks /> and No. 62 is redesignated as No. 8.
* April 28, 1968: The ''Golden Gate'' makes its last run.

==Equipment used==
Initial ''Golden Gate'' consists (two [[Passenger car (rail)#Car types|lightweight]] trainsets), July 1938:

* [[EMC E1]]A Locomotive #8L&ndash;#9L
* [[Baggage car|Baggage]]-"Chair" car / [[Coach (rail)|Coach]] with [[Newsagent|newsstand]] (36 seats) #3490&ndash;#3491
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3115&ndash;#3116
* Club-[[Lounge car|Lounge]]-"Chair" car / Coach (26 seats) #3117&ndash;#3118
* [[Fred Harvey Company]] Lunch Counter [[Dining car|Diner]]-Lounge #1501&ndash;#1502
* Round-end Parlor-Lounge-[[Observation car|Observation]] (34 seats) #3243&ndash;3244

The ''Golden Gate'' consists (two trainsets) as of March 1948:

* [[EMC E1]]A Locomotive #3LA, #4LA, #5L, #7L&ndash;#9L (shared power with the ''[[San Diegan (train)|San Diegan]]'')<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Golden Gate 201.jpg|thumb|310px|right|Part of a 1935 promotional brochure for the ''Golden Gate''.]] -->
* [[Baggage car|Baggage]]-"Chair" car / [[Coach (rail)|Coach]] with [[Newsagent|newsstand]] (36 seats) #3490&ndash;#3491
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3116, #3119, #3137&ndash;#3166
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3116, #3119, #3137&ndash;#3166
* "Chair" car / [[Lounge car|Lounge]] #3117&ndash;#3118
* [[Fred Harvey Company]] Lunch Counter [[Dining car|Diner]] #1500&ndash;#1507
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3116, #3119, #3137&ndash;#3166
* Leg Rest "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats)* #2861&ndash;#2911
* [[Sleeping car|Sleeper]] ''Valley''-type (6 sections, 6 roomettes, 4 bedrooms)
* Round-end "Chair" car / Coach-[[Observation car|Observation]] (58 seats) #3243&ndash;3244

:<nowiki>*</nowiki>Extra car added between Chicago and Oakland during the summer months.

''Golden Gate'' consists in 1958:

* ALCO [[ALCO PA|PA/PB]] #51LAC or
* [[EMD F-unit]] 300-series LAB sets

&nbsp;'''Nos. 60&ndash;63'''
* any lightweight [[Baggage car|Baggage]]
* "Chair" car / [[Coach (rail)|Coach]] (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158
* [[Bar (counter)|Bar]]-[[Lounge car|Lounge]] #1388&ndash;#1399, #1346&ndash;#1349
* [[Fred Harvey Company]] Lunch Counter ([[Dining car|Diner]]) #1500, #1503&ndash;#1507
* "Chair" car / [[Coach (rail)|Coach]] (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158

&nbsp;'''No. 62 only'''
* [[Railway Post Office]]-Baggage #3402&ndash;#3408, #3600&ndash;#3606
* any lightweight [[Baggage car|Baggage]]
* "Chair" car / [[Coach (rail)|Coach]] (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158
* Bar-Lounge #1388&ndash;#1399, #1346&ndash;#1349
* [[Fred Harvey Company]] Lunch Counter ([[Dining car|Diner]]) #1500, #1503&ndash;#1507
* "Chair" car / [[Coach (rail)|Coach]] (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158
* "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3070&ndash;#3101, #3108, #3111, #3115, #3119, #3144&ndash;#3158

In May 1960 two-unit ALCO PA sets replaced the F-units. Car #1346 was converted to a "Vend-O-Lounge" vending machine car in May 1964 (operated by the Harvey Company), though it failed to gain acceptance and was replaced with a 1500-series Lunch Counter Diner the following September.

==See also==
* [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway#Passenger service|Passenger train service]] on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
* [[San Joaquin (train)]]: [[Amtrak]] route that partly runs along the route of the Golden Gate.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bryant |first1=Keith L. |last2=Frailey |first2=Fred W. Jr. |title=History of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway |date=2020 |publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press]] |isbn=9781496222718}}
* {{cite book| last1=Duke| first1=Donald| last2=Kistler| first2=Stan| year=1963| title=Santa Fe... Steel Rails through California| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3VEAAAAIAAJ| publisher=[[Golden West Books]]| location=San Marino, CA| isbn=0-87095-009-6}}
* {{cite book| last=Duke| first=Donald| year=1997| title=Santa Fe: The Railroad Gateway to the American West, Volume One| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eBHjRQAACAAJ| publisher=Golden West Books| location=San Marino, CA|isbn=0-87095-110-6}}
* {{cite book| last=Frailey| first=Fred W.| year=1974| title=A Quarter Century of Santa Fe Consists| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXZMGQAACAAJ| publisher=RPC Publications| location=Godfrey, IL}}
* {{cite book| last=Pelouze| first=Richard W.| year=1997| title=Trademarks of the Santa Fe Railway and Peripheral Subjects| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2FPHQAACAAJ| publisher=The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society, Inc.| location=Highlands Ranch, CO| isbn=978-1-933587-06-6}}
* {{Cite journal| last=Signor| first=John R.| year=2005| title=The Golden Gate Trains| journal=The Warbonnet| volume=11| issue=1| pages=6–25}}
* {{Wayner - Car names, numbers, consists}}
* {{Zimmermann-Santa Fe}}
{{refend}}

{{ATSF named trains}}

[[Category:Passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:North American streamliner trains]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1938]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway services discontinued in 1968]]