Chico and Northern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Chico and Northern Railroad was a non-operating subsidiary holding company
of the Southern Pacific Railroad
that was created to acquire a 32.31 mile line from Chico
- Stirling City
from the Butte County Railroad
. Upon acquiring the line the Chico & Northern immediately leased the line back to the Butte County Railroad. The Chico & Northern was dissolved into SP in 1912 and never operated any of the line.
The line ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad
at Chico, California
to the Diamond Match Company
lumber mill at Stirling City
. The Butte County Railroad operated over the line from 1903-1915. From 1915 until abandonment in the 1970s the line was operated as the Southern Pacific's Stirling City Branch.
was granted a franchise on November 11, 1902 and incorporated
on February 24, 1903 or March 2, 1903. Construction of the line commenced in April 1903 and seven months later (November 1, 1903) service commenced between Barber (1 mile south of Chico) and Magalia
. The line was built using 75# rails and with grades as steep a 3.75%.
The Chico & Northern was incorporated on November 11, 1903. Within a month (November 27, 1903) of the Butte County Railroad
reaching Magalia
, the line was sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad
via SP's non-operating subsidiary holding company
the Chico & Northern Railroad. SP's Chico & Northern Railroad immediately lease
d the line back to the Butte County Railroad
for operation. A year after commencing construction the line was operating all the way to Stirling City
and completed on April 15, 1904.
The Chico & Northern Railroad was finally dissolved into SP on February 29, 1912. The line was then conveyed to SP's sister company, the Central Pacific Railway. In 1914 the line was conveyed from CP back to the SP. The Butte County Railroad
's lease with SP expired on November 30, 1915. The Butte County Railroad
was dissolved two months later on January 21, 1916 at which point the line became the Stirling City
Branch and was operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad
.
loosely follows the route of the entire railroad line.
abandoned the line and the tracks were removed in the 1970s. The grade is still visible between Magalia
and Stirling City
where it crosses Skyway Road. The Magalia Southern Pacific
Deport (an SP Common Standard No. 22 design)http://webpages.charter.net/altalair/sp_cs22_depots.html remains at its original location and is now a restaurant (Lovin Oven Bagel Cafe at 6818 Depot Lane). The grade through Paradise is a trail.
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
that was created to acquire a 32.31 mile line from Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
- Stirling City
Stirling City, California
Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
from the Butte County Railroad
Butte County Railroad
The Butte County Railroad was a class II railroad that ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chico, California to the Diamond Match Company lumber mill at Stirling City...
. Upon acquiring the line the Chico & Northern immediately leased the line back to the Butte County Railroad. The Chico & Northern was dissolved into SP in 1912 and never operated any of the line.
The line ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
at Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
to the Diamond Match Company
Diamond Match Company
The Diamond Match Company was the largest manufacturer of matches in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Jarden is the current owner of the Diamond brand.-History:...
lumber mill at Stirling City
Stirling City, California
Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
. The Butte County Railroad operated over the line from 1903-1915. From 1915 until abandonment in the 1970s the line was operated as the Southern Pacific's Stirling City Branch.
History
The Butte County RailroadButte County Railroad
The Butte County Railroad was a class II railroad that ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chico, California to the Diamond Match Company lumber mill at Stirling City...
was granted a franchise on November 11, 1902 and incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
on February 24, 1903 or March 2, 1903. Construction of the line commenced in April 1903 and seven months later (November 1, 1903) service commenced between Barber (1 mile south of Chico) and Magalia
Magalia, California
Magalia is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 11,310 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The line was built using 75# rails and with grades as steep a 3.75%.
The Chico & Northern was incorporated on November 11, 1903. Within a month (November 27, 1903) of the Butte County Railroad
Butte County Railroad
The Butte County Railroad was a class II railroad that ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chico, California to the Diamond Match Company lumber mill at Stirling City...
reaching Magalia
Magalia, California
Magalia is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 11,310 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, the line was sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
via SP's non-operating subsidiary holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
the Chico & Northern Railroad. SP's Chico & Northern Railroad immediately lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
d the line back to the Butte County Railroad
Butte County Railroad
The Butte County Railroad was a class II railroad that ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chico, California to the Diamond Match Company lumber mill at Stirling City...
for operation. A year after commencing construction the line was operating all the way to Stirling City
Stirling City, California
Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
and completed on April 15, 1904.
The Chico & Northern Railroad was finally dissolved into SP on February 29, 1912. The line was then conveyed to SP's sister company, the Central Pacific Railway. In 1914 the line was conveyed from CP back to the SP. The Butte County Railroad
Butte County Railroad
The Butte County Railroad was a class II railroad that ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chico, California to the Diamond Match Company lumber mill at Stirling City...
's lease with SP expired on November 30, 1915. The Butte County Railroad
Butte County Railroad
The Butte County Railroad was a class II railroad that ran from a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chico, California to the Diamond Match Company lumber mill at Stirling City...
was dissolved two months later on January 21, 1916 at which point the line became the Stirling City
Stirling City, California
Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
Branch and was operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
.
Route
Skyway Road from Chico to Stirling CityStirling City, California
Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
loosely follows the route of the entire railroad line.
- Barber (1 or 2 miles south of Chico)
- Butte CreekButte CreekButte Creek may refer to:*Butte Creek, California, former town in Butte County*Butte Creek , a Sacramento River tributary at **Little Butte Creek , a tributary of Butte Creek at...
- ParadiseParadise, CaliforniaParadise is an incorporated town in Butte County, in the northwest foothills of California's Central Valley, in the Sierra. The town is considered part of the Chico Metropolitan Area. The population was 26,218 at the 2010 census, down from 26,408 at the 2000 census...
- Optimo
- MagaliaMagalia, CaliforniaMagalia is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 11,310 at the 2010 census.-History:...
(SP MP 203.2) - DoonDoonDoon can refer to:Geography and places:*River Doon, Scotland*Loch Doon, Scotland*Doon River, New Zealand*Doon, Iowa, USA*Doon, County Cavan, Ireland*Doon, County Offaly, Ireland*Doon, County Limerick, Ireland...
- Stirling CityStirling City, CaliforniaStirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
The line today
Southern PacificSouthern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
abandoned the line and the tracks were removed in the 1970s. The grade is still visible between Magalia
Magalia, California
Magalia is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 11,310 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and Stirling City
Stirling City, California
Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is an unincorporated community. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet...
where it crosses Skyway Road. The Magalia Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
Deport (an SP Common Standard No. 22 design)http://webpages.charter.net/altalair/sp_cs22_depots.html remains at its original location and is now a restaurant (Lovin Oven Bagel Cafe at 6818 Depot Lane). The grade through Paradise is a trail.