June 1938.  Modesto, California.

It has only been about six years since the wire north of Modesto came down.  TS 100 poses as a familiar location where many photographers will catch it during the next decade.

Recently, former WP engineer Norman Holmes shared with me a little story about his early days on the WP.  He was called to take a train south from Stockton through Modesto.  At Aurora, they stopped and coupled the steam locomotive up to the electric locomotive waiting there for the mandated pull down Ninth Street.  However, the electric crew instructed the men in the steamer to keep operating.  They stated that the little juice jack, probably the 100, didn't have enough power to pull anything.  Mr. Holmes related that they operated down Ninth Street with the steam engine tugging and the steeplecab just along for show.

photo by Marvin Maynerd, Don Marenzi collection

CCT Steeplecab Electric 100

Tidewater Southern Railway