Travel AR Studios

Benicia Train Ferry Project

What is the story?

The Southern Pacific Railroad’s train ferry, Solano, was the largest train ferry in the world when it began service in 1879. Its home port was the town of Benicia, California’s former capital.

As part of the transcontinental railroad, Benicia was on the main line north and east from San Francisco for all rail traffic. Before the ferry, trains had to detour far south to then travel north along the Bay to Oakland. It wasn’t possible at the time to build a bridge that large.

The Solano train ferry allowed trains to cross the Carquinez Strait between Benicia and Port Costa. Trains could drive directly onto the ferry. At peak times, trains were transported every half hour. The one-mile crossing took only 9 minutes to complete.

The Solano weighed 3,540 tons and was the size of a city block at 494 feet long and 406 feet wide. Forty-eight freight cars or 24 passenger train cars could fit at one time. It was featured in two editions of Scientific American magazine as an engineering marvel.

After 51 years of ferrying trains, its service ended in 1930 when a new railroad bridge was opened. Eventually, all the train tracks were removed and the area was transformed into a fishing pier. Besides a restored 1902 train depot building, there is little to see today of this historic site.

Learn more by viewing the Digital Exhibit or visit the physical scale model of the train ferry and actual trains at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

Where is it?

Crossing the Sacramento River in the Carquinez Strait
One mile across the Carquinez Straits
Ferry slips were 100 feet into the existing waterway.
Today’s fishing pier has parking and a train depot on the right side.
Open space in front of the train depot can show AR tracks.

Virtual trains would run down the middle of the street.
Side walkways provides safe viewing.
Virtual trains would run down the fishing pier.
The ferry can be viewed from the end of the fishing pier.

What is the project?

The project will deliver several components:

  • AR train tracks, pier and ferry slip
  • AR Solano train ferry
  • AR locomotive and train cars
  • Publicity
  • Signage
  • Paid advertising via concierge feature

The technical components will be delivered in phases:

  • Wireframe structures
  • Fully-rendered structures
  • Structures in motion
  • Supporting content
  • Audio effects
  • AR glasses experience

Information sources will include:

  • Historical experts, documents and photographs
  • Site measurements
  • Physical scale model of the train ferry
  • Actual train locomotive and cars

Who are the sponsors?

Benicia Historical Society

Main Street Benicia

City of Benicia

California State Railroad Museum

Why is this a great exhibit?

A compelling story

  • Undertold story
  • Largest train ferry in the world
  • Engineering marvel
  • Completed the transcontinental railroad
  • Operated over 50 years (1879 to 1930)
  • Displaced by a new technology (bridge)

Extends existing exhibits

  • Physical models are in the Railroad Museum
  • Travel by train from Sacramento
  • Extends the Digital Exhibit website

Attracts visitors

  • Train and history enthusiasts
  • Technology enthusiasts
  • Other historical sites
  • Great bars and restaurants