List of California railroads

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 UPRR 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 CFNR Genesee & Wyoming 210
Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad CORP Genesee & Wyoming 305 (56 in CA)
Lake County Railroad LCR/LCY Frontier Rail 54
Napa Valley Wine Train NVRR 18
Northwestern Pacific Railroad NWP 63
Pacific Sun Railroad PSRR Watco 62
Sacramento Southern Railroad SSR State of California 3
SAV 7
San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad SDIY Genesee & Wyoming 1
San Joaquin Valley Railroad SJVR Genesee & Wyoming 297
SFBR 7
Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway SCBG Roaring Camp, Inc. 9
Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railroad SCMB Progressive Rail, Inc. 31
Santa Maria Valley Railroad SMVRR 14
Sierra Northern Railway SERA 68
Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad STE OmniTrax 25
Trona Railway TRC Searles Valley Minerals/Nirma 31
Ventura County Railroad VCRR Genesee & Wyoming 9
West Isle Line, Inc. WFS Western Farm Service 5
Yreka Western Railroad YW Railmark Holdings 9
Switching and terminal
Name Carrier Code Parent company Route miles
Central California Traction Company CCT BNSF/UPRR 96
Los Angeles Junction Railway LAJ BNSF 64
Modesto and Empire Traction Company MET 49
Oakland Terminal Railway OTR BNSF/UPRR 10
Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. PHL Anacostia Rail Holdings Company 59
Quincy Railroad QRR 3
Richmond Pacific Railroad RPRC 6

Other[]

  • (MIRS)
  • (OGRE)
    • (POAK)
  • (SCRR)
  • USG Corporation (USG)

Passenger carriers[]

Intercity[]

  • Amtrak (AMTK): California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited
  • Amtrak California (CDTX): Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin
  • California High-Speed Rail (under construction)

Commuter rail[]

Local[]

  • Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
  • Los Angeles County Metro Rail (LACZ)
  • San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI)
  • OC Streetcar (under construction)
  • Sacramento RT Light Rail (SCRT)
  • San Diego Trolley (SDTI)
  • Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail (VTA)
  • Sprinter (SDNX)

Excursion[]

Amusement park[]

Defunct railroads[]

See also: List of California interurban railroads
This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by .
Common carriers
Name Mark System[nb 1] From To Successor Notes
Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad WP 1895 1903 Western Pacific Railway
Alameda Belt Line ABL ATSF/ WP 1925 2007 N/A
1921 1930 N/A
Albion River Railroad NWP (ATSF) 1885 1891
NWP (ATSF) 1902 1905 Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad
SP 1887 1887
SP 1875 1888 Northern Railway
Amador Central Railroad AMC 1908 1997 Amador Foothills Railroad
Amador Foothills Railroad 1998 2004 N/A
Arcata and Mad River Railroad AMR 1881 1985 Eureka Southern Railroad
1875 1881 Arcata and Mad River Railroad
Arizona and California Railway 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 ATSF 1866 1897 Santa Fe Pacific Railroad
1908 1911 Ventura County Railway
1903 1906
Barnwell and Searchlight Railway ATSF 1906 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
SP 1877 1887
BP&C 1906 1946 U.S. Navy
Bear Harbor and Eel River Railroad (?) 1893 1921 Abandoned
Berkeley Branch Railroad SP 1876 1888 Northern Railway
Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad 1868 1885
Boca and Loyalton Railroad WP 1900 1916 Western Pacific Railroad
Bodie Railway and Lumber Company 1893 1906
Bodie Railway and Lumber Company 1881 1882 Bodie and Benton Railway and Commercial Company
Bodie and Benton Railway and Commercial Company 1882 1890 Bodie Railway and Lumber Company
Bucksport and Elk River Railroad 1884 1932
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 SP 1903 1915 N/A Leased the Chico and Northern Railroad
WP 1902 1905 Western Pacific Railway
California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway ATSF 1911 1963 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
California Central Railroad 1912 1930 N/A
California Central Railroad SP 1857 1868 California and Oregon Railroad
California Central Railway ATSF 1887 1889 Southern California Railway
California Eastern Railway ATSF 1895 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
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 ATSF 1884 1902 Oakland and East Side Railroad
California Northeastern Railway SP 1905 1911 Oregon Eastern Railway
California Northern Railroad SP 1860 1881
NWP (ATSF) 1900 1904 San Francisco and Northwestern Railway
NWP (SP) 1898 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
California and Oregon Railroad SP 1865 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
California Pacific Railroad SP 1865 1898 Southern Pacific Railroad
California Pacific Railroad Extension Company SP 1869 1869 California Pacific Railroad
California, Shasta and Eastern Railway 1912 1927 N/A
California Southern Railroad ATSF 1914 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
California Southern Railroad ATSF 1880 1889 Southern California Railway
California Southern Railroad SP 1870 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad
ATSF 1881 1882 California Southern Railroad
California Western Railroad CWR 1947 2003 N/A
CWR 1905 1947 California Western Railroad
Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad 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
1911 1930 N/A
SP 1904 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Central Pacific Railroad SP 1861 1899 Central Pacific Railway
Central Pacific Railway SP 1899 1959 Southern Pacific Company
Chico and Northern Railroad SP 1903 1912 Central Pacific Railway
1888 1901 N/A
SP 1913 1924 Visalia Electric Railroad
NWP (SP) 1886 1889
1920 1935 N/A
SP 1905 1917 Southern Pacific Railroad
1885 1886
SP 1911 1917 Southern Pacific Railroad
1886 1915 N/A
ATSF 1926 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Coronado Railroad SP 1886 1908
Crescent City Railway UP 1906 1915
Death Valley Railroad 1914 1931 N/A
Diamond and Caldor Railway 1904 1952 N/A
Eel River and Eureka Railroad 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 NWP (SP) 1896 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Eureka Southern Railroad EUKA 1984 1992 North Coast Railroad
Feather River Railway 1939 1966 N/A
SP 1883 1887
ATSF 1898 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Fernley and Lassen Railway SP 1909 1912 Central Pacific Railway
SP 1876 1877
Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad NWP (ATSF) 1903 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
1863 1865 N/A
ATSF 1905 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
ATSF 1910 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Fulton and Guerneville Railroad NWP (SP) 1877 1877 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
Goose Lake and Southern Railway SP 1908 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Great Northern Railway GN GN 1930 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
Great Western Railway of Colorado GWR 1986 1987
GWR 1987 1997 Lake County Railroad
Hanford and Summit Lake Railway SP 1910 1917 Southern Pacific Railroad
HBL 1929 1998 Pacific Harbor Line, Inc.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad 1915 1949 N/A
1900 1943 N/A
HI SP 1903 1985 Southern Pacific Transportation Company
HT 1917 Part of Port of Oakland Railroad
Hueneme, Malibu and Port Los Angeles Railway . . .
NWP (SP) 1901 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
SP 1902 1905
Indian Valley Railroad 1916 1938 N/A
WP 1902 1905 Western Pacific Railway
SP 1904 1935 Southern Pacific Company
Ione and Eastern Railroad 1904 1908 Amador Central Railroad
Iron Mountain Railway 1895 1927 N/A
Kings Lake Shore Railroad 1917 1934 N/A
ATSF 1909 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
1901 1913
Lake County Railroad LCR 1997 Still exists as a lessor of the
Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company SP 1898 1927 Southern Pacific Company
Laton and Western Railroad ATSF 1910 1942 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Loma Prieta Railroad SP 1882 1884 Pajaro and Santa Cruz Railroad
SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
UP 1887 1888
UP 1888 1891 Los Angeles Terminal Railway
Los Angeles and Independence Railroad SP 1875 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
UP 1889 1891 Los Angeles Terminal Railway
Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad UP 1916 1987 Union Pacific Railroad
SP 1876 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad ATSF 1883 1887 California Central Railway
Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad SP 1868 1874 Southern Pacific Railroad
Los Angeles and Santa Monica Railroad ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
Los Angeles Terminal Railway UP 1890 1901 San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
1902 1931 N/A
NWP (SP) 1886 1889
SP 1867 1868 California and Oregon Railroad
WP 1904 1905 Western Pacific Railway
McCloud River Railroad MR 1897 1992 McCloud Railway
1896 1913 Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway
Minarets and Western Railway 1921 1932 N/A
ATSF 1913 1942 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Modesto Interurban Railway 1909 1993 Modesto and Empire Traction Company
1920 1938 Modesto Interurban Railway
Modoc Northern Railroad MNRR 2005 2009 Union Pacific Railroad
SP 1908 1912 Central Pacific Railway
1914 Still exists as a private carrier subsidiary of Cemex
SP 1880 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1874 1879
Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway 1913 1930 N/A
SP 1864 1869 California Pacific Railroad Extension Company
SP 1887 1908
SP 1905 1912 Central Pacific Railway
SP 1884 1893 Nevada–California–Oregon Railway
Nevada–California–Oregon Railway SP 1888 1945 Central Pacific Railway
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad 1874 1943 N/A
Nevada and Oregon Railroad SP 1881 1884
Nevada Southern Railway ATSF 1892 1895 California Eastern Railway
Newport Wharf and Lumber Company SP 1889 1893 Santa Ana and Newport Railway
North Coast Railroad NCRR 1992 1996 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
North Pacific Coast Railroad NWP (SP) 1871 1902 North Shore Railroad
NWP (SP) 1882 1885 North Pacific Coast Railroad
North Shore Railroad NWP (SP) 1902 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
NWP (SP) 1885 1892 North Pacific Coast Railroad
Northern Railway SP 1871 1898 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1884 1889
SP 1888 1898 Southern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad NWP 1996 2001 Northwestern Pacific Railway
Northwestern Pacific Railroad 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
ATSF 1904 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Oakland and East Side Railroad ATSF 1902 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Oakland Terminal Railroad ATSF/ WP 1935 1943 Oakland Terminal Railway
SP 1881 1887
Ocean Shore Railroad 1911 1920 N/A
Ocean Shore Railway 1905 1911 Ocean Shore Railroad
Oregon Eastern Railway SP 1911 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Oregon and Eureka Railroad 1903 1911 N/A Leased the Eureka and Klamath River Railroad and
SP 1887 1888
1927 1955 N/A
Pacific Coast Railroad 1882 1882 Pacific Coast Railway
Pacific Coast Railway 1882 1941 N/A All PCRY right of way in Santa Maria Valley absorbed by competitor Santa Maria Valley Railroad
Pacific Electric Railway PE SP 1901 1965 Southern Pacific Company Electric until 1961
SP 1922 1924 Southern Pacific Company
Pajaro and Santa Cruz Railroad SP 1884 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
1890 1897
1897 1928 N/A
1897 1897
Palmdale Railroad 1888 1893 N/A
Parr Terminal Railroad PRT 1950 2002 Richmond Pacific Railroad
Pasadena Railway UP 1887 1892 Los Angeles Terminal Railway
1915 1921 N/A
1904 1911 Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad
SP 1862 1869
Port Railroads, Inc. PRI 1973 1996 San Joaquin Valley Railroad
SP 1910 1934 Southern Pacific Company
1908 1909
1909 1917 Quincy Railroad
SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Randsburg Railway ATSF 1897 1911 California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway
Redondo Beach Railway ATSF 1888 1889 Southern California Railway
ATSF / SP 1902 1932 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Southern Pacific Company
UP 1915 1917 Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
Riverside, Santa Ana and Los Angeles Railway ATSF 1885 1887 California Central Railway
Sacramento Northern Railway SN WP 1921 1987 Western Pacific Railroad Electric until 1946
WP 1903 1903 Western Pacific Railway
SP 1877 1888 Northern Railway
SP 1864 1865 California Pacific Railroad
Sacramento Southern Railroad SP 1903 1912 Central Pacific Railway
Sacramento Valley Railroad SP 1852 1877
Sacramento Valley and Eastern Railway 1906 1927 N/A
San Bernardino and Eastern Railway ATSF 1890 1892 Southern California Railway
San Bernardino and Los Angeles Railway ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
San Bernardino and San Diego Railway ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
San Bernardino Valley Railway ATSF 1887 1887 California Central Railway
San Diego and Arizona Railway SP 1906 1933 San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway SDAE SP 1933 Still exists as a lessor of the Carrizo Gorge Railway and San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
SDAE 1979 1984 San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
San Diego Central Railroad ATSF 1886 1887 California Central Railway
SP 1909 1912
SP 1887 1888
SP 1888 1909
SP 1912 1917 San Diego and Arizona Railway
SP 1908 1912
San Francisco and Alameda Railroad SP 1863 1870
SP 1863 1864 San Francisco and Alameda Railroad
SP 1868 1869 Western Pacific Railroad
San Francisco Belt Railroad SFB 1969 1993 N/A
SP 1883 1887
NWP (SP) 1903 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
NWP (SP) 1868 1869 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
SP 1857 1865 California Pacific Railroad
SP 1903 1911 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad NWP (SP) 1869 1889
NWP (SP) 1888 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Northwestern Railway NWP (ATSF) 1903 1907 Northwestern Pacific Railroad
San Francisco and Oakland Railroad SP 1861 1870
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 SP 1860 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad
NWP (SP) 1882 1889
NWP (SP) 1889 1892 North Pacific Coast Railroad
WP 1902 1903 Western Pacific Railway
SP 1887 1894 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Jacinto Valley Railway ATSF 1887 1887 California Central Railway
San Joaquin and Eastern Railroad SJ&E 1912 1933 N/A
San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Railroad SP 1882 1888 Northern Railway
San Joaquin Valley Railroad SP 1891 1893 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Joaquin Valley Railroad SP 1868 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
SP 1886 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1886 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
1907 1912 California Central Railroad
1873 1875
1875 1882 Pacific Coast Railway
SP 1871 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad SLR UP 1901 1916 Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
NWP (SP) 1869
SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1889 1892 Newport Wharf and Lumber Company
Santa Ana and Newport Railway SP 1892 1899 Southern Pacific Railroad
Santa Ana and Westminster Railway SP 1890 1899 Santa Ana and Newport Railway
SP 1868 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad
Santa Cruz Railroad SP 1873 1881 Pajaro and Santa Cruz Railroad
SP 1874 1887
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 ATSF 1892 1892 Southern California Railway
ATSF 1899 1912 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Santa Rosa and Carquinez Railroad SP 1887 1888
Saratoga and Almaden Railroad 1884 1905 N/A
SP 1887 1888 Northern Railway
Sierra Railroad SERA 1935 2003 Sierra Northern Railway
Sierra Railway of California SRYC 1897 1937 Sierra Railroad
SP 1911 1915
Sierra Valley & Mohawk Railway SP 1885 1895 Sierra Valley Railroad
Sierra Valley Railroad SP 1895 1909
NWP (SP) 1868 1868
NWP (SP) 1875 1877 San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
NWP (SP) 1881 1885
NWP (SP) 1878 1889
NWP (SP) 1875 1878
South Pacific Coast Railroad SP 1876 1887
SP 1887 1937 Southern Pacific Company
SP 1907 1945 Southern Pacific Company
Southern California Railway ATSF 1889 1906 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
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
SP 1888 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1872 1873 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1886 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Transportation Company SP SP 1969 1998 Union Pacific Railroad
State Belt Railroad 1873 1969 San Francisco Belt Railroad
WP 1902 1903 Western Pacific Railway
Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad SP 1865 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Stockton and Ione Railroad 1873 1875 N/A
SP 1887 1888 Southern Pacific Railroad
Stockton and Visalia Railroad SP 1869 1877 Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad
1903 1922 N/A
ATSF/ SP 1900 1912
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
ATSF/ SP 1909 1912
Fort Bragg
Tidewater and Southern Railroad WP 1910 1912 Tidewater Southern Railway
Tidewater Southern Railway TSO, TS WP 1912 1987 Western Pacific Railroad
Tidewater and Southern Transit Company WP 1912 1912 Tidewater Southern Railway
Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad 1904 1940 N/A
Vaca Valley Railroad SP 1869 1870 Vaca Valley and Clear Lake Railroad
Vaca Valley and Clear Lake Railroad SP 1877 1888 Northern Railway
Ventura County Railway VCY 1911 Still exists as a lessor of the Ventura County Railroad
Ventura and Ojai Valley Railroad SP 1896 1899 Southern Pacific Railroad
SP 1874 1899 Southern Pacific Railroad
Visalia Electric Railroad VE SP 1904 1992 Southern Pacific Transportation Company Electric until 1944
1887 1900 N/A
West Side and Mendocino Railroad SP 1886 1888 Northern Railway
Western Nevada Railroad SP 1879 1880 Nevada and Oregon Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad WP WP 1916 1987 Union Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad SP 1862 1870 Central Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railway WP 1903 1916 Western Pacific Railroad
SP 1887 1888 Northern Railway
SP 1887 1888 Northern Railway
Yolo Shortline Railroad YSLR 1991 2003 Sierra Northern Railway
Yosemite Short Line Railway 1905 1917 N/A
Yosemite Valley Railroad 1902 1935
1934 1945 N/A
Yreka Railroad 1888 1935 Yreka Western Railroad
SP 1862 1869 California and Oregon Railroad

Private carriers

Notes[]

  1. ^ This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.

References[]

  • Fickewirth, Alvin A. (1992). California Railroads. San Marino, California: Golden West Books. ISBN 0-87095-106-8.
  • Robertson, Donald B. (1998). Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History - Volume IV - California. Caldwell, ID: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. ISBN 0-87004-385-4.
  • Association of American Railroads (2003), Railroad Service in California (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2005.
  • Santa Fe Railroad (1945), Along Your Way, Rand McNally, Chicago, Illinois.
  • Serpico, Philip C. (1988). Santa Fé Route to the Pacific. Palmdale, California: Omni Publications. ISBN 0-88418-000-X.
  1. ^ "2018 California State Rail Plan" (PDF). California Department of Transportation. Caltrans. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  2. ^ "The Historic Placerville Branch".

See also[]

External links[]

Archival collections[]

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