Monterey Branch — Castroville to Monterey

CA · Castroville → Monterey

The railroad built to deliver guests to a luxury hotel.

Southern Pacific built its branch to Monterey around 1880, and ran it along with the grand Hotel Del Monte. It carried San Francisco's wealthy to the resort and later served the sardine canneries of Cannery Row that John Steinbeck made famous.

The famous Del Monte passenger train ran between San Francisco and Monterey until 1971, and freight faded after the canneries closed. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County bought the line in 2003 for possible future transit. Much of the corridor now sits beside the popular Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail.

⚠️ Before you go: every railroad on this map is private property. A line that looks abandoned may still be owned by a railroad, used to store rail cars, or put back into service at any time — sometimes with no warning. Before going near any track, make sure it's truly abandoned (no recent use, rails not polished, no signals or cars stored on it) and that you're allowed to be there. Never assume a track is dead.

📷 Photos & stories from riders

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