Sacramento Southern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Sacramento Southern Railroad is a heritage railroad owned by the California State Railroad Museum
which operates excursion trains on it.
The railroad extends from the museum property located in Old Sacramento south along the east bank of the Sacramento River
levee
.
The original Sacramento Southern Railroad ran south 24.3 miles to Walnut Grove, California
via Freeport and was a non-operating subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Company.
The line was constructed between 1906–1912, and the first train began operating over the line in 1909. It was merged in 1912 with the Central Pacific Railroad
upon completion of the line to Walnut Grove. The line was extended to Isleton by 1929. In 1931, a three-mile extension of the branch reached the Mokelumne River
.
The railroad later became a part of the SP system. Recent years have seen a resurgence in the road's freight business, serving a number of local industries via an interchange with the Union Pacific Railroad
. Future plans call for expanding operations southward into the Sacramento River Delta
area.
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It is located in Old Sacramento at 111 I Street....
which operates excursion trains on it.
The railroad extends from the museum property located in Old Sacramento south along the east bank of the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
levee
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
.
The original Sacramento Southern Railroad ran south 24.3 miles to Walnut Grove, California
Walnut Grove, California
Walnut Grove is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
via Freeport and was a non-operating subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Company.
The line was constructed between 1906–1912, and the first train began operating over the line in 1909. It was merged in 1912 with the Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
upon completion of the line to Walnut Grove. The line was extended to Isleton by 1929. In 1931, a three-mile extension of the branch reached the Mokelumne River
Mokelumne River
The Mokelumne River is a river in Northern California. The Upper Mokelumne River originates in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and flows into Pardee Reservoir and then Camanche Reservoir in the Sierra foothills. The Lower Mokelumne River refers to the portion of the river below Camanche Dam...
.
The railroad later became a part of the SP system. Recent years have seen a resurgence in the road's freight business, serving a number of local industries via an interchange with the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. Future plans call for expanding operations southward into the Sacramento River Delta
Sacramento River Delta
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, or California Delta, is an expansive inland river delta and estuary in northern California in the United States. The Delta is formed at the western edge of the Central Valley by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and lies just east of...
area.