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| California Northern Railroad | |
|---|---|
| Reporting marks | CFNR |
| Locale | Throughout Northern California |
| Dates of operation | September 26, 1993–Present |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) |
| Headquarters | American Canyon, California |
The California Northern Railroad (AAR reporting marks CFNR) is one of several Class III short-line railroad companies owned by RailAmerica, Inc. It operates over Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) tracks (now Union Pacific Railroad) under a long-term lease.
The CFNR was originally owned by the Park-Sierra Rail Group (owner David L. Parkinson of St. Helena, CA), who also owned the Arizona & California Railroad. The CFNR was later sold to RailAmerica.
Contents |
Lines Operated
SP & Old NWP (Suisun/Fairfield - Willits)
Current Suisun/Fairfield - Schellville
Presently, the CFNR railroad only operates between Suisun/Fairfield to a connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railway at Schellville, California. The CFNR also operates into Vallejo, California over the original California Pacific Railroad mainline that was constructed in 1867/1868. The CFNR also serves Napa Pipe at Napa, California.
The CFNR operates over the Union Pacific with trackage rights between Suisun/Fairfield and Davis.
1993 Operation between Schellville - Willits
Originally, in 1993 the CFNR operated much further than Schellville and their operation extended as far north as Willits, California. At Willits the CFNR interchanged with the North Coast Railroad. The North Coast Railroad ran from Willits - Eureka, California over the old NWP.
The CFNR also interchanged with the California Western Railroad at Willits. The California Western Railroad ran west from Willits to Fort Bragg, California.
SP's West Valley Line (Davis - Tehama)
The CFNR currently operates over SP's former West Valley Line. This line between Woodland and Tehema was constructed by Central Pacific's subsidiary, the Northern Railway. The track between Davis and Woodland was built by the California Pacific Railroad and at one time extended as far north as Yuba City/Marysville via Knight's Landing.
The California Pacific and Northern Railway/Central Pacific came under the operational control of Southern Pacific between 1885-1888.
Construction Completion Timeline
- September 23, 1869 Davis - Woodland - Knight's Landing (California Pacific Railroad)
- July 1, 1876 Woodland - Williams (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
- December 28, 1879 Williams - Willows (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
- July 31, 1882 Willows - Orland (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
- September 27, 1882 Orland - Tehama (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
- July 1, 1888 Willows - Fruto [1] (West Side and Mendocino Railroad/Northern Ry) Branch currently ends at Johns-Manville Fiberglass Plant west of Willows
SP's West Side Line (Tracy - Los Banos)
CFNR Interchanges
Union Pacific:
- Davis, California
- Suisun City, California
- Tehama, California
- Tracy, California
- Schellville, California
- Rocktram, California
References
- Lewis, Edward A. American Shortline Railway Guide - 5th Edition, Kalmbach Publishing Co., 1996. ISBN 0-89024-290-9
- Robertson, Donald B. Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History - Volume IV - California, The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1998. ISBN 0-87004-385-4
- Walker, Mike. Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - Poster Merger Edition - California and Nevada, Steam Powered Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-874745-08-0