A Collision at Guadalupe Yard, 1952

Railroads of the Santa Maria Valley (copyright 2001), the Santa Maria Valley's worst train accident occurred in the Guadalupe yard on October 21, 1952. A Southern Pacific (SPRR) cab-forward (4-8-8-2) steam locomotive was not clear of the switch when sideswiped by an SPRR diesel locomotive. Seventeen people were injured, thirteen railroad cars were derailed, the diesel was destroyed, and the cab-forward suffered significant damage. That, plus damage to parked cars and nearby houses brought the total accident loss to about $1 million.

These photos were taken by Leon Hale who was a Pacific Fruit Express shipping clerk. Used by permission of his son, Jim Hale.