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"Southern Pacific's San Joaquin Route, circa 1950", Volume 3, provides an in-depth study of one of SP's major north-south arteries in the post-WW II decade. In this exciting era, the diesel gained ascendancy, but steam soldiered on until the middle fifties.

It's all here -- recorded in 16mm color. Freight and passenger trains along the Bay to Martinez, where the Valley Line diverges towards Tracy. At Lathrop. the Valley Daylights exchange coaches with the Sacramento Daylights. Then, a fast run down the Valley through today's cities which all began life as railroad towns, to Bakersfield.

Here most trains of both the SP and Santa Fe, which shared trackage through the Tehachapis, took on helpers for the grueling climb to the summit. Many shots are shown of the world-famous loop, as well as incredible scenes of the 1952 quake damage. After threading through Soledad Canyon, the show concludes with arrival at LAUPT.