By far the most beautiful and elegant pieces of rolling stock to ever work for the TS were its 3 Jewett interurban cars.  The style of the electric railroads called for even mundane trolleys to sport varnished wood and brass handrails.  They also had a brief life, as the railroad saw the writing on the wall in the late 1920's and banished interurban passenger service in 1932.  Amazingly, however, at least two of the cars survive today, and one may yet run again after over 70 years of retirement.

The Tidewater's interurban service was fairly basic.  Only one route, Stockton to Modesto, ever saw service (although the Manteca Branch was electrified and a passenger depot was built in Turlock).  Trains began their run at the Stockton Waterfront, travelling via Central California Traction, and later Stockton Electric, trackage rights.  There was a stop at the Stockton Hotel, shared with the CCT, before trains turned south, passing the Santa Fe depot, then gaining home rails at Mineral Baths.  Service was provided fairly frequently in the early years, with a peak of 24 daily trains.  Picnic trains were run some weekends, often requiring borrowed Central California Traction trailers to handle the loads.

Many photos show the TS running 2 car trains.  However, the road only owned three interurban cars and the schedules required 2 trainsets.  While the TS probably borrowed CCT trailers, and maybe even interuban cars, for some runs, it likely ran single car trains quite frequently.

The interurban cars did not provide the initial passenger service on the Tidewater.  Although planned as an electric railroad, the line began service during construction using steam locomotive first 1 and a former CP/SP coach.  Trains terminated in Stockton at the Western Pacific depot and ran to the junction at Oretga before attaining the TS mainline to the current end of track.  The interurban cars appear to have taken over in late 1913.

All three cars were formally retired in 1934.  There is some speculation that they were used as cabooses after the end of passenger service in 1932.  Reportedly, one was considered for this use, but it was decided that they were unsuitable.  All three cars were stripped of their equipment and set up as section houses at the station site of Hatch, the beginning of the Turlock Branch.  They would remain there until they were sold in 1961.  One car, TS 200, was rescued by the Bay Area Electric Railway Association.  TS 202 remains near Hatch, built into the body of a building on private land.  The fate of TS 201 remains unknown.

Tidewater Southern Railway

Interurban Cars