Alamitos Branch (San Jose Area) -  Southern Pacific

 

This is the former right of way of the SP Alamitos Branch in the San Jose area.This is near the south end of the line, where the right of way is now used by the local VTA light rail system. This view faces south, along Winfield Blvd.  Ca. Route 85 crosses over the bridge. The original rail r-o-w countinued straight toward the camera location.  Photo from October 2003 courtesy Mike Palmer.

 

 

 

 

 

This branch left the Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) Coast Line a few miles south of San Jose, at a location called Lick.  The branch proceeded for a few miles, generally southwest, to the end of the branch at Alamitos. This branch was still shown on local maps as of 1973 but was likely abandoned sometime in the 1970s or early 1980s.  Most of the right-of-way cannot be traced easily, as there are now housing subdivisions along much of its route.  Not far from the main line junction, the right of way is used for a self storage facility.  Further south, the last couple miles of the branch r-o-w are now used for the VTA light rail system, built in the early 1990s.  The single track light rail line includes the Oakridge and Almaden stations on the former SP segment.