Folder: S.F. Ships-Ferryboats-Solano.
Newscopy: "The 'Solano', car-transfer ferry steamer of the Southern Pacific, which, together with the steamer 'Contra Costa', was scrapped by the railroad after the Martinez-Benicia bridge had been opened for traffic in November 1930. These two steamers were the largest ferry boats in the world and were used in ferrying trains around Carquinez Straits, about 30 miles from San Francisco. Slightly smaller than the 'Contra Costa', the 'Solano' was built at the West Oakland (Cal) ship yards of the old Central Pacific Railroad and went into service December 28, 1879, when the railroad opened its shorter shore-line route between Oakland and Sacramento. The dimensions of the 'Solano' were: Displacement 5450 tons, length 420 ft. 6 inches, breadth 116 ft. 2 in; depth 1 ft. 5 in. Like the 'Contra Costa', it had four tracks and capacity for two locomotives and 36 freight cars, or two locomotives and 24 passenger cars."
Written on back: "barge hull on Carquinez Straits on mud flats near Crockett."