List of California railroads

The following railroads operate in the U.S. state of California.

Common freight carriers

Freight carrier information is current since  2021.[1]

Class I
Name Carrier Code Parent company Route miles
BNSF Railway BNSF Berkshire Hathaway 2,114
Union Pacific Railroad UP Union Pacific Corporation 3,292
Class III
Name Carrier Code Parent company Route miles
Arizona and California Railroad ARZC Genesee & Wyoming 190 (84 in CA)
California Northern Railroad[2] CFNR Genesee & Wyoming 210
Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad CORP Genesee & Wyoming 305 (56 in CA)
Central Valley Union Railroad CVUR 12
Lake County Railroad LCR/LCY Frontier Rail 54
Napa Valley Wine Train NVRR 18
Niles Canyon Railway NCRY Pacific Locomotive Association (PLA) 10
Northwestern Pacific Railroad NWP Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit 63
Pacific Sun Railroad PSRR Watco 62
Sacramento Southern Railroad SSR State of California 3
Sacramento Valley Railroad SAV Patriot Rail Company 7
San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad[3] SDIY Genesee & Wyoming 1
San Joaquin Valley Railroad[4] SJVR Genesee & Wyoming 297
San Francisco Bay Railroad SFBR 7
Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway[5] SCBG Roaring Camp, Inc. 9
Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railway SCMB Progressive Rail, Inc. 31
Santa Maria Valley Railroad[6] SMVRR 14
Sierra Northern Railway SERA 68
Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad[7] STE OmniTrax 25
Trona Railway[8][9] TRC Searles Valley Minerals/Nirma 31
Ventura County Railroad VCRR Genesee & Wyoming 9
West Isle Line, Inc. WFS Nutrien 5
Yreka Western Railroad[10] YW Railmark Holdings 9
Switching and terminal
Name Carrier Code Parent company Route miles
Central California Traction Company[11] CCT BNSF/UPRR 96
Los Angeles Junction Railway LAJ BNSF 64
Modesto and Empire Traction Company[12] MET 49
Oakland Terminal Railway OTR BNSF/UPRR 10
Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. PHL Anacostia Rail Holdings Company 59
Quincy Railroad[13] QRR 3
Richmond Pacific Railroad RPRC 6

Other

Passenger carriers

Intercity

Commuter rail

Local

Excursion

Amusement park

Defunct railroads

Common carriers
Name Mark System[a] From To Successor Notes
Alameda County Railway[16] 1888 1889 Alameda County Terminal Railway
Alameda County Terminal Railway[16] 1889 1891 California Railway
Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad[17] WP 1895 1903 Western Pacific Railway
Alameda Belt Line ABL ATSF/ WP 1925 2007 N/A
Albion Railroad[17] 1921 1930 N/A
Albion River Railroad[18] NWP (ATSF) 1885 1891 Albion and Southeastern Railway
Albion and Southeastern Railway[18] NWP (ATSF) 1902 1905 Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad
Almaden Branch Railroad[19] SP 1887 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
Amador Branch Railroad[20] SP 1875 1888 Northern Railway
Amador Central Railroad[20] AMC 1908 1997 Amador Foothills Railroad
Amador Foothills Railroad 1998 2004 N/A
Arcata and Mad River Railroad[21] AMR 1881 1985 Eureka Southern Railroad
Arcata Transportation Company[21] 1875 1881 Arcata and Mad River Railroad
Arizona and California Railway[22] ATSF 1903 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway ATSF ATSF 1901 1996 Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad[23] ATSF 1866 1897 Santa Fe Pacific Railroad
Bakersfield and Ventura Railroad[24] 1908 1911 Ventura County Railway
Bakersfield and Ventura Railway[24] 1903 1906 Bakersfield and Ventura Railroad
Barnwell and Searchlight Railway[25][26] ATSF 1906 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Bay and Coast Railroad[26] SP 1877 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
Bay Point and Clayton Railroad[27] BP&C 1906 1946 U.S. Navy
Bear Harbor and Eel River Railroad (?) 1893 1921 Abandoned
Berkeley Branch Railroad[27] SP 1876 1888 Northern Railway
Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad 1868 1885
Boca and Loyalton Railroad[28][29] WP 1900 1916 Western Pacific Railroad
Bodie Railway and Lumber Company[30] 1893 1906 Mono Lake Railway and Lumber Company
Bodie Railway and Lumber Company[31][30] 1881 1882 Bodie and Benton Railway and Commercial Company
Bodie and Benton Railway and Commercial Company[30] 1882 1893 Bodie Railway and Lumber Company
Bucksport and Elk River Railroad[32] 1884 1932 Bucksport and Elk River Railway
Bucksport and Elk River Railway[32] 1932 1952 N/A
Burlington Northern Inc. BN 1970 1981 Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad BN 1981 1996 Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Butte County Railroad[33] SP 1903 1915 N/A Leased the Chico and Northern Railroad
Butte and Plumas Railway[33] WP 1902 1905 Western Pacific Railway
Cahuenga Valley Railroad[34] 1888 1902 Los Angeles and Pacific Railway
California Railway[16] 1891 1896 Alameda, Oakland and Piedmont Electric Railroad
California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway ATSF 1911 1963 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
California Central Railroad[35] 1912 1930 N/A
California Central Railroad[36] SP 1857 1868 California and Oregon Railroad
California Central Railway[35] ATSF 1887 1889 Southern California Railway
California Eastern Railway[37] ATSF 1895 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
California Midland Railroad[38] NWP (ATSF) 1902 1903 San Francisco and Northwestern Railway
California and Mount Diablo Railroad ATSF 1880 1884 California and Nevada Railroad
California and Nevada Railroad[39] ATSF 1884 1902 Oakland and East Side Railroad
California Northeastern Railway SP 1905 1911 Oregon Eastern Railway
California Northern Railroad[40] SP 1860 1885 Northern California Railroad
California and Northern Railway[41] NWP (ATSF) 1900 1904 San Francisco and Northwestern Railway
California Northwestern Railway[42] NWP (SP) 1898 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
California and Oregon Railroad[43] SP 1865 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
California Pacific Railroadv[42] SP 1865 1898 Southern Pacific Railroad
California Pacific Railroad Extension Company SP 1869 1869 California Pacific Railroad
California, Shasta and Eastern Railway[44] 1912 1927 N/A
California Southern Railroad[45] ATSF 1914 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
California Southern Railroad[46] ATSF 1880 1889 Southern California Railway
California Southern Railroad SP 1870 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad
California Southern Extension Railroad[46] ATSF 1881 1882 California Southern Railroad
California Street Cable Railroad[47] 1880 1884 Ferries and Cliff House Railway
California Western Railroad[48] CWR 1947 2003 N/A
California Western Railroad and Navigation Company[48] CWR 1905 1947 California Western Railroad
Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad[49] CPLT 1911 1986 N/A
Carrizo Gorge Railway CZRY 1997 2012 Pacific Imperial Railroad
Carson and Colorado Railroad SP 1881 1892 Carson and Colorado Railway
Carson and Colorado Railway SP 1892 1905 Nevada and California Railway
Cement, Tolenas and Tidewater Railroad 1911 1930 N/A
Central California Railway[11] SP 1904 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Central Pacific Railroad[50][51] SP 1861 1899 Central Pacific Railway
Central Pacific Railway SP 1899 1959 Southern Pacific Company
Chico and Northern Railroad[51] SP 1903 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Chino Valley Railway[52] 1888 1901 N/A
Chowchilla Pacific Railway[53] SP 1913 1924 Visalia Electric Railroad
Cloverdale and Ukiah Railroad[52] NWP (SP) 1886 1889 San Francisco and North Pacific Railway
Coal Fields Railway[54] 1920 1935 N/A
Coast Line Railway[55] SP 1905 1917 Southern Pacific Railroad
Colusa Railroad[56] 1885 1886 Colusa and Lake Railroad
Colusa and Hamilton Railroad[55] SP 1911 1917 Southern Pacific Railroad
Colusa and Lake Railroad[56] 1886 1915 N/A
Corona and Santa Fe Railway ATSF 1926 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Coronado Railroad[b][62] SP 1886 1908 San Diego Southern Railway
Crescent City Railway[63] UP 1906 1915 Riverside, Rialto and Pacific Railroad
Death Valley Railroad[64][65] 1914 1931 N/A
Diamond and Caldor Railway[66] 1904 1952 N/A
Eel River and Eureka Railroad[67] NWP (ATSF) 1882 1903 San Francisco and Northwestern Railway
Elsinore, Pomona and Los Angeles Railway ATSF 1895 1899 Southern California Railway
Eureka and Klamath River Railroad[68] NWP (SP) 1896 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Eureka Southern Railroad[67] EUKA 1984 1992 North Coast Railroad
Feather River Railway[69] 1939 1966 N/A
Felton and Pescadero Railroad[69] SP 1883 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
Ferries and Cliff House Railway 1888 1893 Market Street Railway Steam dummy railway.[47]
Ferris and Lakeview Railway ATSF 1898 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Fernley and Lassen Railway[51] SP 1909 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Folsom and Placerville Railroad[70] SP 1876 1877 Sacramento and Placerville Railroad
Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad[18] NWP (ATSF) 1903 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Freeport Railroad[18] 1863 1865 N/A
Fresno County Railway ATSF 1905 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Fullerton and Richfield Railway ATSF 1910 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Fulton and Guerneville Railroad[71] NWP (SP) 1877 1877 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railway 1880 1892 Market Street Railway Steam dummy line.[72]
Goose Lake and Southern Railway[51] SP 1908 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Great Northern Railway GN GN 1930 1970 Burlington Northern Railroad
Great Western Railway of Colorado GWR 1986 1987 Great Western Railway of Oregon
Great Western Railway of Oregon GWR 1987 1997 Lake County Railroad
Hanford and Summit Lake Railway[73] SP 1910 1917 Southern Pacific Railroad
Harbor Belt Line Railroad[74] HBL 1929 1998 Pacific Harbor Line, Inc.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad[75] 1915 1949 N/A
Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valleys Railway of California[76] 1900 1943 N/A
Holton Interurban Railway[77] HI SP 1903 1985 Southern Pacific Transportation Company
Howard Terminal Railway HT 1917 Part of Port of Oakland Railroad
Hueneme, Malibu and Port Los Angeles Railway . 1905 1929
Humboldt Railroad NWP (SP) 1901 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Imperial and Gulf Railway[78] SP 1902 1905 Inter-California Railway
Indian Valley Railroad[79] 1916 1938 N/A
Indian Valley Railway WP 1902 1905 Western Pacific Railway
Inter-California Railway[78] SP 1904 1935 Southern Pacific Company
Ione and Eastern Railroad[20] 1904 1908 Amador Central Railroad
Iron Mountain Railway[78] 1895 1927 N/A
Kings Lake Shore Railroad[80] 1917 1934 N/A
Kings River Railway[81] ATSF 1909 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Klamath Lake Railroad[81] 1901 1913 Siskiyou Electric Light and Power Company
Lake County Railroad LCR 1997 Still exists as a lessor of the Lake Railway
Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company[82][83] SP 1898 1927 Southern Pacific Company
Laton and Western Railroad[84] ATSF 1910 1942 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Loma Prieta Railroad[85] SP 1882 1884 Pajaro and Santa Cruz Railroad
Long Beach Railroad SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Long Beach, Whittier and Los Angeles County Railroad SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles County Railroad[86] 1887 1888 Los Angeles and Pacific Railway
Los Angeles and Glendale Railroad[87] UP 1887 1888 Los Angeles and Glendale Railway
Los Angeles and Glendale Railway[87] UP 1888 1891 Los Angeles Terminal Railway
Los Angeles and Independence Railroad[88] SP 1875 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles and Pacific Railway[86] 1888 1889 Pasadena and Pacific Railway
Los Angeles and Redondo Railway[89] 1896 11907 Los Angeles Railway Became the F Line street railway
Los Angeles, Pasadena and Glendale Railway[87] UP 1889 1891 Los Angeles Terminal Railway
Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad UP 1916 1987 Union Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles and San Diego Beach Railway[90] 1906 1918 Pasadena and Pacific Railway
Los Angeles and San Diego Railroad[91] SP 1876 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad[92] ATSF 1883 1887 California Central Railway
Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad[87] SP 1868 1874 Southern Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles and Santa Monica Railroad[35] ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
Los Angeles Terminal Railway[87] UP 1890 1901 San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
Ludlow and Southern Railway[93][94] 1902 1931 N/A
Marin and Napa Railroad[95] NWP (SP) 1886 1889 San Francisco and North Pacific Railway
Marysville Railroad[43] SP 1867 1868 California and Oregon Railroad
Marysville and Susanville Railroad WP 1904 1905 Western Pacific Railway
McCloud River Railroad[96] MR 1897 1992 McCloud Railway
Mill Valley and Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway[97] 1896 1913 Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway
Minarets and Western Railway[98] 1921 1932 N/A
Minkler Southern Railway[99] ATSF 1913 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Modesto Interurban Railway[12] 1909 1911 Modesto and Empire Traction Company
Modesto Terminal Company 1920 1938 Modesto Interurban Railway
Modoc Northern Railroad MNRR 2005 2009 Union Pacific Railroad
Modoc Northern Railway[51] SP 1908 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Mojave Northern Railroad[100] 1914 1928 Northwestern Portland Cement Company
Monterey Railroad[97] SP 1880 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Monterey Extension Railroad SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Monterey and Salinas Valley Railroad[101] SP 1874 1879 Pacific Improvement Company
Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway[97] 1913 1930 N/A
Napa Valley Railroad[102] SP 1864 1869 California Pacific Railroad Extension Company
National City and Otay Railway[103] SP 1887 1908 San Diego Southern Railway
Nevada and California Railway SP 1905 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Nevada and California Railroad SP 1884 1893 Nevada–California–Oregon Railway
Nevada–California–Oregon Railway[104] SP 1888 1945 Central Pacific Railway
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad[105] 1874 1943 N/A
Nevada and Oregon Railroad SP 1881 1884 Nevada and California Railroad
Nevada Southern Railway[37] ATSF 1892 1895 California Eastern Railway
Newport Wharf and Lumber Company[106] SP 1889 1893 Santa Ana and Newport Railway
North Coast Railroad[40] NCRR 1992 1996 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
North Pacific Coast Railroad[107] NWP (SP) 1871 1902 North Shore Railroad
North Pacific Coast Railroad Extension Company[107] NWP (SP) 1882 1885 North Pacific Coast Railroad
North Shore Railroad[108] NWP (SP) 1902 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
North Western Railroad of California[107] NWP (SP) 1885 1892 North Pacific Coast Railroad
Northern Railway[109] SP 1871 1898 Southern Pacific Railroad
Northern California Railroad[40] SP 1884 1889 Northern California Railway
Northern California Railway[40] SP 1888 1898 Southern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad NWP 1996 2001 Northwestern Pacific Railway
Northwestern Pacific Railroad[110] NWP NWP 1907 1992 Southern Pacific Transportation Company
Northwestern Pacific Railway NWP 2001 2001 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railway NWP 1906 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Oakdale Western Railway[39] ATSF 1904 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Oakland and East Side Railroad[39] ATSF 1902 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Oakland Terminal Railroad[111] ATSF/ WP 1935 1943 Oakland Terminal Railway
Oakland Township Railroad[112] SP 1881 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
Ocean Shore Railroad[113] 1911 1920 N/A
Ocean Shore Railway[113] 1905 1911 Ocean Shore Railroad
Oregon Eastern Railway SP 1911 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Oregon and Eureka Railroad[68] 1903 1911 N/A Leased the Eureka and Klamath River Railroad and Humboldt Railroad
Ostrich Farm Railway[86] 1886 1888 Los Angeles and Pacific Railway
Otay Railway[103] SP 1887 1888 National City and Otay Railway
Outer Harbor Terminal Railway 1927 1955 N/A
Pacific Coast Railroad[114] 1882 1882 Pacific Coast Railway
Pacific Coast Railway[114] 1882 1941 N/A All PCRY right of way in Santa Maria Valley absorbed by competitor Santa Maria Valley Railroad
Pacific Electric Railway[115] PE SP 1901 1965 Southern Pacific Company Electric until 1961
Pacific Improvement Company SP 1879 1880 Southern Pacific Company
Pacific Southwestern Railroad SP 1922 1924 Southern Pacific Company
Pajaro and Santa Cruz Railroad[85] SP 1884 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Pajaro Valley Railroad[116] 1890 1897 Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad
Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad[116] 1897 1928 N/A
Pajaro Extension Railway[116] 1897 1897 Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad
Palmdale Railroad 1888 1893 N/A
Park and Ocean Railroad[117] 1883 1893 Market Street Railway Steam dummy line.[72] Electrified in 1900, becoming part of the 7 Haight streetcar line.[118]
Parr Terminal Railroad PRT 1950 2002 Richmond Pacific Railroad
Pasadena Railway[119] UP 1887 1892 Los Angeles Terminal Railway
Patterson and Western Railroad[119] 1915 1921 N/A
Peninsular Rairoad[120] SP 1905 1909 Peninsular Railway
Peninsular Railway[120] SP 1909 1934 Southern Pacific Company
Petaluma and Haystack Railroad[121] NWP (SP) 1862 1875 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad[120] 1918 1985
Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway[120] 1903 1918
Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railway[49] 1904 1911 Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad
Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad[122] SP 1862 1869 Sacramento and Placerville Railroad
Port Railroads, Inc. PRI 1973 1996 San Joaquin Valley Railroad
Porterville Northeastern Railway[13] SP 1910 1934 Southern Pacific Company
Quincy and Eastern Railroad[13] 1908 1909 Quincy Western Railway
Quincy Western Railway[13] 1909 1917 Quincy Railroad
Ramona and San Bernardino Railroad SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Randsburg Railway[123][124] ATSF 1897 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Redondo Beach Railway[125] ATSF 1888 1889 Southern California Railway
Richmond Belt Railway ATSF / SP 1902 1932 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Southern Pacific Company
Riverside, Rialto and Pacific Railroad[63] UP 1915 1917 Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
Riverside, Santa Ana and Los Angeles Railway[35] ATSF 1885 1887 California Central Railway
Sacramento Northern Railway[126] SN WP 1921 1987 Western Pacific Railroad Electric until 1946
Sacramento and Oakland Railway WP 1903 1903 Western Pacific Railway
Sacramento, Placer and Nevada Railroad[127] 1861 1864 Central Pacific Railway
Sacramento and Placerville Railroad[70] SP 1877 1888 Northern Railway
Sacramento and San Francisco Railroad SP 1864 1865 California Pacific Railroad
Sacramento Southern Railroad[127] SP 1903 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Sacramento Valley Railroad[128] SP 1852 1877 Sacramento and Placerville Railroad
Sacramento Valley and Eastern Railway[128] 1906 1927 N/A
San Bernardino, Arrowhead and Waterman Railway[129] 1888 1904 Pacific Electric Railway Became the Arrowhead Line and Highland Line of the Pacific Electric system
San Bernardino and Eastern Railway[130] ATSF 1890 1892 Southern California Railway
San Bernardino and Los Angeles Railway[35] ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
San Bernardino and Redlands Railroad[131] SP 1888 1916 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Bernardino and San Diego Railway[35] ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
San Bernardino Valley Railway[35] ATSF 1887 1887 California Central Railway
San Diego and Arizona Railway[3] SP 1906 1933 San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway[3] SDAE SP 1931 1976 Still exists as a lessor of the Carrizo Gorge Railway and San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Transportation Company SDAE 1979 1984 San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
San Diego Central Railroad[35] ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway[3] SP 1909 1912 San Diego and South Eastern Railway
San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway[3] SP 1887 1888 San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern Railway
San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern Railway[3] SP 1888 1909 San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway
San Diego, Old Town and Pacific Beach Railroad[91] 1888 1894 Los Angeles and San Diego Beach Railway
San Diego and Pacific Beach Railway[91] 1887 1888 San Diego, Old Town and Pacific Beach Railroad
San Diego, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Railway[91] 1894 1906 Los Angeles and San Diego Beach Railway
San Diego and Old Town Street Railway[91] 1886 1888 San Diego, Old Town and Pacific Beach Railroad
San Diego and South Eastern Railway[132] SP 1912 1917 San Diego and Arizona Railway
San Diego Southern Railway[132] SP 1908 1912 San Diego and South Eastern Railway
San Francisco and Alameda Railroad[133] SP 1863 1870 San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda Railroad
San Francisco, Alameda and Stockton Railroad[133] SP 1863 1864 San Francisco and Alameda Railroad
San Francisco Bay Railroad[134] SP 1868 1869 Western Pacific Railroad
San Francisco Belt Railroad SFB 1969 1993 N/A
San Francisco and Colorado River Railroad[112] SP 1883 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
San Francisco and Eureka Railway NWP (SP) 1903 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Humboldt Bay Railroad[135] NWP (SP) 1868 1869 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
San Francisco Market Street Railroad 1860 1867 Steam dummy line.[47]
San Francisco and Marysville Railroad SP 1857 1865 California Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Napa Railway[136] SP 1903 1911 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Napa Valley Railway[135] 1935 1956
San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad[135] NWP (SP) 1869 1889 San Francisco and North Pacific Railway
San Francisco and North Pacific Railway[135] NWP (SP) 1888 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Northwestern Railway[38] NWP (ATSF) 1903 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Oakland Railroad[133] SP 1861 1870 San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda Railroad
San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda Railroad[133] SP 1870 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway ATSF 1895 1901 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
San Francisco and San Jose Railroad[137] SP 1860 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and San Rafael Railroad[135] NWP (SP) 1882 1889 San Francisco and North Pacific Railway
San Francisco, Tamalpais and Bolinas Railway[107] NWP (SP) 1889 1892 North Pacific Coast Railroad
San Francisco Terminal Railway and Ferry Company WP 1902 1903 Western Pacific Railway
San Gabriel Valley Rapid Transit Railway[138] SP 1887 1894 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Jacinto Valley Railway[35] ATSF 1887 1887 California Central Railway
San Joaquin and Eastern Railroad[139] SJ&E 1912 1933 N/A
San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Railroad[140] SP 1882 1888 Northern Railway
San Joaquin Valley Railroad (1891–1893)[4] SP 1891 1893 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Joaquin Valley Railroad (1868–1870)[4] SP 1868 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
San Joaquin Valley and Yosemite Railroad[140] SP 1886 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Jose and Almaden Railroad[141] SP 1886 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Juan Pacific Railway[142] 1907 1912 California Central Railroad
San Luis Obispo Railroad[142] 1873 1875 San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria Valley Railroad
San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria Valley Railroad[142] 1875 1882 Pacific Coast Railway
San Pablo and Tulare Railroad[143] SP 1871 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Pablo and Tulare Extension Railroad SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad[144] SLR UP 1901 1916 Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
San Pedro, Los Angeles and Utah Railway[119] UP 1887 1887 Pasadena Railway
San Rafael and San Quentin Railroad[106] NWP (SP) 1869
San Ramon Valley Railroad SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Santa Ana Railroad[106] SP 1889 1892 Newport Wharf and Lumber Company
Santa Ana and Newport Railway[106] SP 1892 1899 Southern Pacific Railroad
Santa Ana and Westminster Railway[106] SP 1890 1899 Santa Ana and Newport Railway
Santa Clara and Pajaro Valley Railroad[145] SP 1868 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad
Santa Cruz Railroad[85] SP 1873 1881 Pajaro and Santa Cruz Railroad
Santa Cruz and Felton Railroad[5] SP 1874 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
Santa Fe and Los Angeles Harbor Railway ATSF 1922 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Santa Fe Pacific Railroad ATSF 1897 1902 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Santa Fe and Santa Monica Railway[130] ATSF 1892 1892 Southern California Railway
Santa Fe Terminal Company of California ATSF 1899 1912 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Santa Rosa and Carquinez Railroad[146] SP 1887 1888
Saratoga and Almaden Railroad 1884 1905 N/A
Shingle Springs and Placerville Railroad[146] SP 1887 1888 Northern Railway
Sierra Railroad[147] SERA 1935 2003 Sierra Northern Railway
Sierra Railway of California[147] SRYC 1897 1937 Sierra Railroad
Sierra and Mohawk Railway[148][149] SP 1911 1915 Nevada–California–Oregon Railway
Sierra Valley & Mohawk Railway[149] SP 1885 1895 Sierra Valley Railroad
Sierra Valley Railroad[149] SP 1895 1909 Sierra and Mohawk Railway
Sonoma County Railroad[135] NWP (SP) 1868 1868 San Francisco and Humboldt Bay Railroad
Sonoma and Marin Railroad[121] NWP (SP) 1875 1877 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
Sonoma and Santa Rosa Railroad[150] NWP (SP) 1881 1885 Sonoma Valley Railroad
Sonoma Valley Railroad[150] NWP (SP) 1878 1889 San Francisco and North Pacific Railway
Sonoma Valley Prismoidal Railway[150] NWP (SP) 1875 1878 Sonoma Valley Railroad
South Pacific Coast Railroad SP 1876 1887 South Pacific Coast Railway
South Pacific Coast Railway[112] SP 1887 1937 Southern Pacific Company
South San Francisco Belt Railway[151] SP 1907 1945 Southern Pacific Company
Southern California Railway[130] ATSF 1889 1906 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Southern California Motor Road[150] SP 1887 1895 Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Company SP SP 1885 1969 Southern Pacific Transportation Company
Southern Pacific Railroad SP 1865 1955 Southern Pacific Company
Southern Pacific Railroad Extension Company SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Branch Railroad[152] SP 1872 1873 Southern Pacific Railroad Part of the Coast Line
Southern Pacific Branch Railway[152] SP 1886 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad Part of the Coast Line
Southern Pacific Transportation Company SP SP 1969 1998 Union Pacific Railroad
State Belt Railroad 1873 1969 San Francisco Belt Railroad
Stockton and Beckwith Pass Railway WP 1902 1903 Western Pacific Railway
Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad[153] SP 1865 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Stockton and Ione Railroad[7] 1873 1875 N/A
Stockton and Tulare Railroad SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Stockton and Visalia Railroad[153] SP 1869 1877 Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad
Sugar Pine Lumber Company 1923 1933 N/A
Sugar Pine Railway[154] 1903 1922 N/A
Sunset Railroad[155] ATSF/ SP 1900 1912 Sunset Railway
Sunset Railway[155] SUN ATSF/ SP 1912 Still exists as a joint subsidiary of the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, leased to the San Joaquin Valley Railroad
Sunset Western Railway[155] ATSF/ SP 1909 1912 Sunset Railway
Tidewater and Southern Railroad WP 1910 1912 Tidewater Southern Railway
Tidewater Southern Railway[156] TSO, TS WP 1912 1987 Western Pacific Railroad
Tidewater and Southern Transit Company WP 1912 1912 Tidewater Southern Railway
Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad[157][158] 1904 1940 N/A
Vaca Valley Railroad[159] SP 1869 1870 Vaca Valley and Clear Lake Railroad
Vaca Valley and Clear Lake Railroad[159] SP 1877 1888 Northern Railway
Ventura County Railway[24] VCY 1911 Still exists as a lessor of the Ventura County Railroad
Ventura and Ojai Valley Railroad[159] SP 1896 1899 Southern Pacific Railroad
Visalia Railroad[160] SP 1874 1899 Southern Pacific Railroad
Visalia Electric Railroad[53] VE SP 1904 1992 Southern Pacific Transportation Company Electric until 1944
Visalia and Tulare Railroad[161] 1887 1900 N/A
West Side and Mendocino Railroad[146] SP 1886 1888 Northern Railway
Western Nevada Railroad SP 1879 1880 Nevada and Oregon Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad[162] WP WP 1916 1987 Union Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad[134] SP 1862 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railway[163] WP 1903 1916 Western Pacific Railroad
Wilmington and Long Beach Rapid Transit Railroad SP 1882 1887
Winters and Ukiah Railway SP 1887 1888 Northern Railway
Woodland, Capay and Clear Lake Railroad SP 1887 1888 Northern Railway
Yolo Shortline Railroad[164] YSLR 1991 2003 Sierra Northern Railway
Yosemite Short Line Railway[164] 1905 1917 N/A
Yosemite Valley Railroad[165] 1902 1935 Yosemite Valley Railway
Yosemite Valley Railway[165] 1934 1945 N/A
Yreka Railroad[10] 1888 1935 Yreka Western Railroad
Yuba Railroad[43] SP 1862 1869 California and Oregon Railroad

Private carriers

Excursion

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.
  2. ^ This Coronado Railroad was a rail line connecting San Diego with Coronado, California, a section of which became the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway's Coronado Branch until the 1990s.[57][58][59][60][61] It is not to be confused with the Coronado Railroad in Arizona.

References

  1. ^ "2018 California State Rail Plan" (PDF). California Department of Transportation. Caltrans. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  2. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 89.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Robertson 1998, p. 203.
  4. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 220.
  5. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 229.
  6. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 231.
  7. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 281.
  8. ^ Myrick 1992b, p. 798.
  9. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 288.
  10. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 308.
  11. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 99.
  12. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 152.
  13. ^ a b c d Robertson 1998, p. 188.
  14. ^ Myrick 1992b, p. 857.
  15. ^ "The Historic Placerville Branch".
  16. ^ a b c Hanson, Erle C. (January 1954). "The Leona Heights RR Chronological History". The Western Railroader. Vol. 17, no. 3, iss. 171. p. 3. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 69.
  18. ^ a b c d Robertson 1998, p. 121.
  19. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 70.
  20. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 71.
  21. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 73.
  22. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 75.
  23. ^ Myrick 1992b, p. 762.
  24. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 292.
  25. ^ Myrick 1992b, pp. 849–853.
  26. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 76.
  27. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 77.
  28. ^ Myrick 1992a, p. 389.
  29. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 79.
  30. ^ a b c d Robertson 1998, p. 153.
  31. ^ Myrick 1992a, p. 307.
  32. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 81.
  33. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 82.
  34. ^ Fickewirth 1992, p. 21.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i Robertson 1998, p. 86.
  36. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 85.
  37. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 88.
  38. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 211.
  39. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 173.
  40. ^ a b c d Robertson 1998, p. 163.
  41. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 83.
  42. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 90.
  43. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 84.
  44. ^ a b c d e Robertson 1998, p. 93.
  45. ^ Robertson 1998, p. 95.
  46. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 94.
  47. ^ a b c Sievers, Wald (January 1960). "Steam Dummies of San Francisco". The Western Railroader. Vol. 23, no. 1, iss. 241. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  48. ^ a b c Robertson 1998, p. 96.
  49. ^ a b Robertson 1998, p. 97.
  50. ^ Myrick 1992a, pp. 1–50.
  51. ^ a b c d e Robertson 1998, p. 100.
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Bibliography

Archival collections