The Oakland, Brooklyn and Fruitvale Railroad was a horse car line between downtown Oakland and the former town of Brooklyn. It was also called the "Tubbs Line", for Hiram Tubbs, one of the financial backers of the railroad. The Tubbs Hotel was well served by the line.
The line was constructed c.1871, and was the only streetcar to East Oakland until 1892. The railroad went from 7th and Broadway up to 12th Street, then across to East 12th Street, stopping at 13th Avenue. The fare was 10 cents or 3 tokens for 25 cents. 1 The railroad operated with four cars, 22 horses and numerous workers. 2,4
James G. Fair bought most of the stock in the company, and in 1888 it was formally transferred to the Pacific Improvement Company. 8 By 1889, the line had been absorbed by the Southern Pacific. 5
By 1895, it had been converted to electric cars, and Mayor Davie felt they were going too fast and failing to sound at every street crossing. 6 Also in 1895, the assessed value of the railroad was $7,250. 3
Links and References
Oakland Tribune 7
- History of East Bay Public Transportation actransit.org
- Hiram Tubbs on Lives of the Dead
- Assessor Dalton Fixes Values San Francisco Call June 27, 1895
- It Was 'Tubbs Line' Oakland Tribune May 1, 1952
- The Tubbs Hotel Line Oakland Tribune March 30, 1889
- Cars Run Too Fast San Francisco Call May 12, 1895
- The New and The Old In Eastbay Transportation Oakland Tribune November 9, 1936
- Railroad Notes Oakland Tribune June 9, 1888
- Tubbs Car Token Found in Seattle Oakland Tribune August 20, 1925
- shareholder meeting Oakland Tribune March 26, 1889
- East Oakland Oakland Tribune October 1, 1885
- Fare Token of 1871 Found Shamokin News-Dispatch April 14, 1941
- The Tubbs Hotel Road to be Entirely Rebuilt Oakland Tribune March 19, 1889
