Postcard History: Sonoma County’s “Coffee Grinder” Train, 1907

The “Coffee Grinder,” officially known as San Francisco and North Pacific No. 99, primarily served the 2.5-mile Guerneville Branch in Sonoma County. This line was crucial for hauling logging trains and providing local passenger service along the Russian River. Historical photographs from around 1900 to 1904 depict this distinctive locomotive in action, often pulling lumber trains or passenger cars through the scenic landscapes of the region. The “Coffee Grinder” earned its moniker due to the sound of its large gears as it worked.