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The First East Oakland Street Car
Introduction
In the 1920's, the Key Note newsletter for Key System employees ran a series of short articles about the history of East Bay transportation and the Key System. What follows is an article reprinted from the June 1929 Key Note, retaining the original grammar and punctuation. The article describes the history of some early street car lines in Oakland— the "Tubbs Line, " East Oakland's first street car service, and the Market Street Railroad.
From 1888, Oakland Cable Railway Co. Car #6 at San Pablo Avenue
and Park Street. Photograph courtesy of Mike Mills.
In 1873 the Oakland, Brooklyn and Fruitvale Railroad came into operating existence. The road was commonly known as the "Tubbs Line"; so named because of the fact that A. Tubbs was one of the large backers and enthusiasts in the establishing of the street car line. In 1873 the Tubbs Hotel at Fifth Avenue and East Twelfth Street was one of the fine hotels of the community. Mr. Tubbs was interested in having adequate transportation for his guests and patrons.
The "Tubbs Line" was built and operated from 7th and Broadway, north to 12th Street and thence east to 13th Avenue. It made a direction connection with the "local" at 7th and Broadway. The fare was 10 cents or 3 tickets for 25 cents.
Although but a short line, it was the only street car line to East Oakland for a number of years. It was not until 1892-twenty years later-when the electric lines were built, that East Oakland had any other street car service.
About 1880 when Senator Fair purchased the San Pablo and Telegraph Avenue lines, he also acquired the "Tubbs Line" and operated it as part of his street railway "system."
Another early street car line was the Market Street Railroad. About 1870 this horse car line was built and operated from First and Market Streets north to 24th Street, thence west to Adeline Street. A year later the line was extended north on Adeline Street and then followed the route of the present Hollis Street line to 34th Street. A short auxiliary line was also built from 7th and Adeline Streets which operated north to connect with the line at 24th Street.
The Market Street Railroad connected with the "Overland" trains at First and Market Streets. When the trains no longer stopped at Market Street, the horse car line was abandoned south of 7th Street. The entire line was abandoned in 1890 when Mr. Blair built the Piedmont cable road.