Highland Park and Fruit Vale Railroad ( Double decker car ) - Oakland, California 1891

Beautifully engraved Bond certificate from the Highland Park and Fruit Vale Railroad issued in 1891. The bond was issued for $500 and was payable in Gold Coin. This historic document has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an unusual double decker car witn an underprint of $500. This item is hand signed by the Company’s President ( E. C. Sessions ) and Secretary ( F. J. Woodward ) and is over 115 years old.








Certificate Vignette



The company operated a line of 10.5 miles, owned 8 double decker motor cars and 2 service cars.

E. C. Sessions of Oakland, California, was a real estate tycoon who organized the Oakland Fruit Vale Railway Company to service his newly subdivided Highland Park and Diamond districts. He invented a height saving design of double deck car, placing the upper longitudinal seats directly on the clerestory of the first deck roof with a hangover built out over the letter board for the walkway to the seats. This walkway terminated in spiral staircases to an open center platform. Mr. C. L. Pullman, brother of George Pullman, (inventor of the sleeping car), formed a partnership with Sessions.