Inventory of the Public Utilities Commission. Railroad Operations and Safety Section Records

Processed by The California State Archives staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou.

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the Public Utilities Commission. Railroad Operations & Safety Section Records

Inventory: F3725

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Contact Information:

California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Processed by:: The California State Archives staff

Descriptive Summary

Title: Public Utilities Commission. Railroad Operations & Safety Section Records

Inventory: F3725

Creator: Public Utilities Commission. Railroad Operations and Safety Section

Extent: see Series Descriptions

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Public Utilities Commission. Railroad Operations & Safety Section Records, F3725, California State Archives.

Contents

For many years, railroad safety came under the service department of the Railroad Commission. In 1929, because of the increasing number of investigations and studies required of the Commission, a safety division was created within the engineering department. With the reorganization of the Commission in 1935 the safety division became a part of the newly created transportation department. This organization remained unchanged until 1953 when by administrative action departments became divisions and divisions became branches (later, sections).

F3725:12021-12049.

1. General Order 33 B, Interlockings. 1912-1970

Physical Description: 29 ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically by name of carrier.

General Order 33 B issued by the Public Utilites Commission required railroads to adhere to certain procedures in the development and maintenance of automated train control equipment. Contains formal filings with PUC, correspondence, profile maps, and assorted engineering designs. Photographs are filed separately.

F3725:12050-12075.

2. Accident Investigation Files. 1943-81.

Physical Description: 26 ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by type of accident-personal injuries, derailments, & collisions-and thereafter chronologically by date of investigation.

Investigations of railroad accidents requiring reports by carrier and PUC staff. Records include transcripts of formal hearings, correspondence, memoranda, & exhibits, principally maps and photographs. Photographs are filed separately.

F3725:12076-12105.

3. Annual Accident Reports. 1926-61, 1976-80.

Physical Description: 30 v.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically by date of report.

Reports are based on information furnished by railroad carriers as required by PUC orders. Reports are divided into two parts: railroad highway crossings accidents and all other types of accidents. Includes statistics on type and number of accidents, property damage, comparisons with other categories of accidents, and classification of accidents by carrier. Reports for certain years are missing.

F3725:12106-12115.

4. Special Studies. 1911-1980.

Physical Description: 10 ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged by study subject.

Studies are conducted by PUC staff in response to concerns expressed by carriers or public. Subjects include lumber loading, efficiency tests, weed control, full crew law, monorail systems, Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Governor's safety conference, and diesel exhaust hazards.

F3725:12116-12120.

5. Public Utilities Commission-Secretary'S Correspondence. 1955-71.

Physical Description: 5 ff.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and thereafter chronologically by date written.

Includes F-G, P-R only. Contains memoranda between PUC staff and commissioners, expressions of concern by companies over PUC decisions, and fiscal and legal matters related to pending cases and applications.

F3725:12121-12124.

6. Public Utilities Commission-General Order 77. 1965, 1970.

Physical Description: 4 reports.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically by year and thereafter alphabetically by name of company.

Sampled for the years 1965 and 1970 only. Includes information for Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. General order 77, required by PUC and filed with the Finance Accounts Division, contains detailed data in the following areas: donations, payments made to attorneys, subscriptions to associations and dues, a list of company officers and employees making $20,000 or more per year, (General Order 77-H changed this figure to $25,000 in 1970), expenditures for certain civic, political, & related activities, & a list of other deductions.