Crumbling Tunnels to Nowhere: The Story Behind Santa Cruz's Mountain Route

Bay Curious

KQED

History, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.9 • 999 Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2021

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How did a cutting edge railroad become crumbling tunnels to nowhere? This week, the story of the Mountain Route, a long lost rail line that once cut through the Santa Cruz Mountains. In it's heyday, the line provided an easy way for Bay Area residents to get to the beaches of Santa Cruz. Additional Reading: The Story Behind Those Old Train Tunnels in the Santa Cruz Mountains The Island Ghost Town in the Middle of San Francisco Bay Help us decide what to cover next by casting your vote! Reported by Peter Arcuni. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Suzie Racho and Katie McMurran. Additional support from Erika Aguilar, Jessica Placzek, Kyana Moghadam, Paul Lancour, Carly Severn, Ethan Lindsey, Vinnee Tong and Don Clyde.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From K-QED.
0:02.0	Hello!
0:05.0	Hello!
0:06.0	I'm like a kid anytime I'm in a tunnel.
0:08.0	Is there anybody down here?
0:12.0	It feels kind of spooky.
0:15.0	So the rumors are that this place is haunted.
0:18.0	Don't tell me that.
0:20.0	Okay, Peter, why don't you tell us where we are right now?
0:24.0	We are off Highway 17 nestled deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
0:29.0	This is just the portal of a tunnel and then it just disappears into the hillside into a forest.
0:35.7	This dark tunnel was once part of a railroad, an engineering marvel. Its tracks sliced
0:42.2	through the mountains and pass through some of the longest tunnels in California.
0:47.0	I'm Katrina Schwartz and this is Bay Curious where we answer your questions about the Bay Area.
0:54.2	Today, reporter Peter Arcunie and I are taking you on the journey of how a cutting edge
0:58.4	railroad became mostly crumbling tunnels to nowhere. Support for Bay Curious
1:15.6	Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, still family-owned,
1:19.8	operated and argued over.
1:21.8	Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold and
1:24.9	taste how trailblazing runs in the family. Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find
1:30.4	your new favorite beer today.
1:32.4	So Peter we're not the only to find your new favorite beer today.
	...

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