Surf, California
Southern Pacific Milepost 302.7

People will frequently ask questions concerning the history of Surf. The railroad began efforts to bridge the Santa Ynez River in 1896 by building a 546' long span, which was replaced in 1933. Between August and November of 1896, a construction camp known as "Bridgeport" existed just east of Surf on the north shore of the river. This boomtown served as home for several hundred laborers. It had saloons, a dancehall, brothels and markets. Bridgeport even became a voting precinct. It closed when the bridge was completed and the buildings were moved to Ocean Park for use as summer homes.

Surf Depot was completed in 1901. The Salvation Army established a USO facility at Surf during WW II. This simple facility with tarpaper and board-and-batten siding served meals to 30,000 troops who arrived every month. The USO closed in May 1946.

Steam engines such as the one below passed through Surf carrying passengers on the "Daylight Limited" and other famous passenger trains. Long freight trains shuttled goods from San Francisco and Los Angeles for delivery to Lompoc.

The Daylight Limited, a popular passenger service, passed through Surf regularly. It descends from a number of Southern Pacific trains that plied the California coast. Beginning in 1901, the Coastline Limited operated as a day-coach train running from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 14 hours and 45 minutes. The Shoreline Limited was an all-parlor car train that was inaugurated in 1906, appealing to the well-heeled traveler.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred near Lompoc in 1927. The Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge was thrown out of alignment near its center; a concrete highway was cracked; and small rockslides and earth slides occurred. A tsunami was recorded on tide gages at San Francisco, La Jolla, San Diego, and Fort Point, and waves were observed at Pismo, Port San Luis (4.9 feet), and Surf (5.9 feet).