Photo: Ojai Train at Devil’s Gulch

Nice photos, Craig. This time of year, it would be great to find out a little more history about the Christmas Lanterns decorating the Arcade. I think they were made by Combs Welding sometime in the 1970′s and have been used ever since. They are timeless and unique to Ojai. Any more info on these you could share?

Pat, Craig: A few days ago, my wife, son and I were driving in downtown Ojai. My wife (Kris) told me that she really likes the lanterns and their wreaths. I told her and our son (Forest) that, if I recalled correctly, that the lanterns were made by Combs Welding years ago. I’ll bet an article was done in the Ojai Valley News about them back when they were hung the first Christmas. I can’t imagine that an article or, at least, a photo was not done back then. Dick Payton is a longtime Ojai resident. I believe that he worked for Bert Combs for a number of years. Dick might be able to provide you with some information about the lanterns.

The railroad was destroyed in many places by the heavy floods in 1969. In fact, no trains ever ran on the line again after those floods. When I was 16 years old, I had a Yamaha 80 motorcyle. This was in 1967 when I lived in Mira Monte. Several of my buddies (Doug Smelz, Mike Payton and others) had small motorcyles too. We used to ride our motorcycles to Devil’s Gulch to hill climb. In the above photo there’s a canyon in the front and middle of the photo. We used to ride at hair-raising speeds down one side of that canyon, then climb out the other side with the dust a flyin’! We would stop our bikes and take breaks on the top of the hill that’s to the right side of the photo. Often times, people driving along Highway 33 would stop in the large dirt turn-out next to Devil’s Gulch and watch us dare-devils. It was great fun! Over the years, the motorcycle hill-climbers began coming in droves. In fact, it got to be too big of a deal and quite noisy. So, eventually, the area was closed to the motorcyclists.

I see that in the photo it says 1955 – The last train runs on the Ventura-Ojai rail line….Is that photo taken of the last train??

Kristine:

I was a senior at Nordhoff High School in Ojai in 1969 when Ventura County was hit with very severe rainstorms. I know for a fact that the storms washed out several of the train trestles that year and the train never ran again, at least, on the northern portion. Southern Pacific Railroad owned the line. They removed sections of the track during the period from 1969 to 1975. Maybe even later. I began my careeer as a Park Ranger with the Ventura County Parks Department on Aug. 26, 1974. I don’t recall the exact date, but the Parks Department acquired the abandoned section of railroad from it’s terminus in Ojai (just east of Bryant Street) to just south of Foster Park. This was probably in the 1980′s. Park Rangers began patrolling the old railbed during that time because of motorcyles being driven loudly on it and annoying adjacent neighbors, people illegally dumping trash, and many other violations. Over the years, the Parks Department developed the railbed into what is now the Ojai Valley Trail. Former Ojai Valley News owner/publisher Fred Volz was an avid hiker and was instrumental in getting the railbed converted to the bicycle/equestrian trail it is today. He elicited the assistance of Ken McDonald (State of Ca. Assemblyman and, Ventura County Board of Supervisor) in order to obtain funding to make the trail a reality. I’m certain that this is in back issues of the Ojai Valley News and other local newspapers. By the way, the City of Ventura developed the old railbed from Foster Park to Ventura and they administer that trail which is called the Ventura River Trail.

Good Luck on your research,
– Drew

I came to to the valley in 1967 and seem to remember that train parked at the old packing house in downtown Ojai, loaded with oranges…or am i imagining this?

Nina Jo, Scott:

I remember seeing the train stopped at Bunce Brothers Lumber Company (now the Rotary Park at the “Y” intersection). I’m uncertain as to when passenger service ended, but I don’t recall ever seeing it in my lifetime. I’m and Ojai native and was born in 1951. Since I came on the scene, the train was used primarily for hauling citrus out of the Ojai Valley. The packing house used to be on the east side of Bryant Street. The train depo was on the west side of Bryant Street.

Choo, choo to you!
– Drew

When I was 10 yrs old my family moved from Ojai to Mira Monte. That would have made it 1963. I remember hearing the train whistle as it passed thru the different intersections . Now as knowing who the last passenger was on the train……maybe me . I used to jump it on the caboose and ride into town. Until I got caught!