Santa Fe Railroad Tugboats

The Santa Fe Railroad barged rail cars across the San Francisco Bay for much of the 20th century as there is no direct rail link to the San Francisco peninsula. In the post World War II period a fleet of three tugs moved the barges: the Paul P. Hastings, the Edward J. Engel, and the John R. Hayden. After cross-bay float service had ended and the tugs had been sold, the Hastings sank off Point Arena, California in water too deep to raise. The Engel sank off Alameda, California and is expected to be raised. The Hayden remains afloat and in service in Oregon.

The Santa Fe Railroad tracks only went as far west as Oakland, California. (The Southern Pacific Railroad had a line on the San Francisco Peninsula from San Jose, but blocked the Santa Fe from access.) The Santa Fe did have some isolated tracks in the city of San Francisco. To connect to them from Oakland the Santa Fe used a fleet of tugs and barges to move freight across the San Francisco Bay. This service began in 1900 and continued until 1984.

Prior to the end of World War II there were five tugs used on San Francisco Bay at various times:

--- Richmond, built new for the Santa Fe by Fulton Iron Works in 1899. Sold to Crowley Tugboat Company in December 1925.

--- A.H. Payson, built new for the Santa Fe in 1902 by Boole & Sons, Oakland CA. Remained in Santa Fe service its entire life, retired in 1948 and was sold for scrap in 1950.

--- E.P. Ripley, built new for the Santa Fe in 1907 by Cruse & Banks, North Bend OR, also sold for scrap in 1950. Ripley was president of the railroad from 1896-1920.

---W.B. Storey, built in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1919 as Basford by Bethlehem Steel. Purchased used by the Santa Fe in August 1923. It was used for 25 years, then laid up for parts, the remains sold for scrap in 1966. Storey was president of the railroad from 1920-1933.

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Wikipedia