California Central Railroad
C. C. R. R. or Cal Central | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Sacramento, CA; Folsom, CA; Lincoln, CA |
Locale | Folsom, CA to Lincoln, CA; April 1864, Junction (Roseville), CA |
Dates of operation | April 21, 1857–July 22, 1868 |
Successor | California and Oregon Railroad (1868); Central Pacific Railroad (1870) |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 60 inches; February 1866, Roseville to Lincoln, 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Length | 18.5 miles, Folsom to Lincoln (1861–1864); 10.3 miles, Roseville to Lincoln (1864–1868) |
The California Central Railroad (CCRR) was incorporated on April 21, 1857, to build a railroad from Folsom to Marysville, as an extension of the Sacramento Valley Railroad which terminated at Folsom. The first division of the CCRR was 18.5 miles long; it started at Folsom, crossed the American River, and ended at the new town of Lincoln, twenty-four miles south of Marysville. The bridge over the American River was the first railroad bridge of any importance built in California, and the American the first river in California crossed by trains. In 1858, California Central was probably the first California railroad to employ Chinese laborers and first to demonstrate that "Chinese laborers can be profitably employed in grading railroads in California."[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/1860_Cal_Central_RR_on_Map_of_Central_California.png/220px-1860_Cal_Central_RR_on_Map_of_Central_California.png)
With the help of the Chinese laborers, CCRR was able to complete in October 1861 the first division of 18.5 miles of rails from Folsom to Lincoln, which was probably the first platted railroad town in California. Thereafter, CCRR was not able to complete the rest of the road to Marysville. In 1868, CCRR was consolidated into the California and Oregon Railroad (of 1868).[2]
History
The California Central Railroad (CCRR) was established April 21, 1857, to build a railroad from Folsom to Marysville as an extension of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, which was completed in 1856 from Sacramento to Folsom.[3][4] The president of California Central was Colonel C. L. Wilson and chief engineer was his friend Theodore Judah.[5]: 55 Building the CCRR was under the management contract dated May 1, 1857, of C. L. Wilson, who had served in a similar capacity with Sacramento Valley Railroad. After securing, on his trip to the East, sufficient funds and supplies for the railroad construction, Wilson returned to look for grading/bridging contractor(s) for the first division of the CCRR, which extended some eighteen miles from Folsom and crossed the American River.[6][7]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/1858-05_CCRR_Sac_Dly_Union_Ad_from_CLWilson.jpg/220px-1858-05_CCRR_Sac_Dly_Union_Ad_from_CLWilson.jpg)
Building the First Division (1858–1861)
Ground breaking took place at Folsom on June 1, 1858.[8] By mid-June, so many white workers left for the gold fields of the Fraser River that the contractor (Chenery & Co.) resorted to hire some fifty Chinese laborers and found out that "Chinese laborers can be profitably employed in grading railroads in California."[9] This was one of the earliest employment in California of Chinese laborers for railroad building.[1] In Fall 1859, S. S. Montague was hired by CCRR (his first job in California), which was probably where he met Judah.[10]: 215
The heaviest grading on the road to Lincoln was in the first five miles from Folsom to the American river and beyond, which involved three main cuts that demanded the use of powder. The grading was accomplished with a labor force of about a hundred men, inclusive of the Chinese laborers. The American river was crossed by building a single-span 300-ton truss bridge, 213 feet long, adapted from a design by S.W. Hall to support 120 tons of load, resting on stone piers, the top of which was 25 feet by 9 feet, constructed on the two banks of the river.[11][12] According to the Sacramento Daily Union, this bridge was "the first railroad bridge of any importance built in the State" and the American "the first river crossed by a train of cars".[13]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/1859-1121_Sacramento_Daily_Union_Ad_Lincoln_town_lots_sale.jpg/220px-1859-1121_Sacramento_Daily_Union_Ad_Lincoln_town_lots_sale.jpg)
At Auburn Ravine, where the line makes an elbow and turns northward toward Marysville, a new town called Lincoln was located earlier by Judah with town lots on sale from Wilson.[14] At an auction in Sacramento in November 1859, over four thousand dollars was realized from the sales of lots in Lincoln, ranging from 20 to 400 dollars for each lot.[15]
Upon the completion of the grading on the first division of the 18.5-mile road from Folsom to Lincoln, track laying began at Folsom on December 30, 1859.[13] On February 15, 1860, the locomotive Sacramento, from the Sacramento Valley Railroad, crossed the bridge over the American river at Folsom with four freight cars loaded with about thirty tons of iron and ties for the CCRR, which was deposited three miles beyond the bridge.[16]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/1861-1120_Sac_Dly_Union_CCRR_Open_to_Lincoln.jpg/220px-1861-1120_Sac_Dly_Union_CCRR_Open_to_Lincoln.jpg)
Delays in tracklaying stretched about a year into summer 1861. That same summer, Judah, working for Central Pacific Railroad as its chief engineer, completed a thorough instrumental survey of the route by the Donner Pass to demonstrate the practicability of the Central Pacific line through the Sierras. Meanwhile, with the help of the Chinese laborers, CCRR was finally able to bring to completion on October 14, 1861, a 5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge line on one track between Folsom and Lincoln.[17][18] The completion of the railroad "changed the appearance of the locality, and breathed into the town the breath of life", birthing probably the first platted railroad town in California.[19]
Aftermath (1862–1868)
In 1862, California Central had two locomotives in service between Folsom and Lincoln — the "Lincoln" and the "Harry Wilson"— one in Sacramento yet to run — the "Garibaldi" — and one on order.[20] As the northern terminus of CCRR, the new town of Lincoln showed signs of growth.[21] Even so, CCRR was never able to complete its road to Marysville.
In November 1862, in an attempt to extend the CCRR road from Lincoln towards Marysville, Col. Wilson was one of several to incorporate the Yuba Railroad, with Samuel Brannan as President. A year later, in December 1863, Yuba Railroad was completely reorganized with new directors and new President, Frank Pixley. The following summer, the company entered into contract with Col. Wilson to build the extension from Lincoln to Marysville, who then left for the Atlantic states to secure the iron necessary. He returned April 1865.[22][23]
Meanwhile, in December 1862, Charles Crocker, one of the Big Four of the Central Pacific Railroad, resigned from the Directorate to receive two days later the contract to Charles Crocker & Co. to grade the first eighteen miles from Sacramento to a junction crossing the existing CCRR tracks.[10]: 225 The work was inaugurated in January 1863 and the grading started February 1863. On April 26, 1864, the Central Pacific opened the Pacific Railroad from Sacramento towards Rocklin, which crossed and sliced in two the already operating CCRR line from Folsom north to Lincoln. The crossing location was at Griders (an existing stage coach station), which became known as Junction, then eventually as Roseville.[24] According to historian Noble, this was a power play by Central Pacific for the federal financing authorized by the 1862 Pacific Railroad Acts, and the power play rendered the CCRR tracks from Folsom to Junction effectively useless.[4] Unlike CCRR, Central Pacific received federal bonds of $16,000 per mile for that portion of their road between Sacramento and Arcade Creek, about seven miles, and $48,000 per mile east of that point, in addition to land grants.[24]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/1865-0928_Sac_Daily_Union_CCRR_Ad_re_CPRR_%40_Roseville.jpg/220px-1865-0928_Sac_Daily_Union_CCRR_Ad_re_CPRR_%40_Roseville.jpg)
A year later in August 1865, Central Pacific maneuvered its way to buy controlling interest in the management of Sacramento Valley, the trunk line to CCRR, thereby diverting the profitable over-mountain Washoe trade and travel, worth several million dollars annually, to Central Pacific. Under its control, the wide gauge of the Sacramento Valley track and rolling stock was reduced to the standard gauge of the Pacific Railroad.[25]
That same month, the Sacramento county sheriff announced a CCRR rolling stock sale, of all its locomotives and cars, to satisfy a claim for $139,755.59, in favor of Samuel Brannan and against C. L. Wilson and CCRC owners, with interest due from June 14, 1864, at 2% compounding monthly. After many postponements, the sale took place in December 1865. According to Pixley, Central Pacific brokered the Sacramento sale for the Yuba Railroad, while in New York Col. Wilson and C. P. Huntington of Central Pacific settled the suit and all differences, and thereafter the CCRR rolling stock and CCRR tracks would be all reduced to standard gauge for use by the Pacific Railroad.[26]
In February 1866, the tracks from Lincoln to Roseville (10.3 miles) was re-laid to the standard gauge of the Pacific Railroad.[27] By the fall of the same year, the CCRR bridge over the American river near Folsom was condemned, no crossing of trains permitted, sealing the demise of the CCRR line from Folsom to Roseville.[28] In September 1867, the CCRR rolling stock along with the road was sold to Central Pacific.[29]
On July 22, 1868, the CCRR company was foreclosed and existing operations were purchased by the California and Oregon Railroad (of 1868), which was subsequently consolidated into the Central Pacific in August 1870.[10]: 262–263 [2]: 84–85
References
- ^ a b Chinn, Thomas W (1969). "A HISTORY OF THE CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA: THE RAILROADS". cprr.org. Chinese Historical Society of America.
- ^ a b Robertson, Donald B. (1998). Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History, Volume IV: California. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers. p. 85. ISBN 0870043854.
California Central Railraod Company
- ^ "Chronology of California Railroading: Early Developments to 1869". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ^ a b Noble, Doug (November 2010). "The Sacramento Valley Railroad: The first railroad of the West". Mountain Democrat. Placerville, California. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ Hinckley, Helen (1969). Rails from the West: A biography of Theodore D. Judah. San Marino, California: Golden West Books.
- ^ "California Central Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. Placer Herald, Volume 5, Number 32. April 18, 1857. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
Marysville Herald
- ^ "RAILROADS. Sacramento, March 29, 1858". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 15, Number 2188. April 1, 1858. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Railroad Beginnings in California: California Central Railroad and other connecting lines". DigitalNetExpress.com, Burbank, California. 2002–2014. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ "Board of Directors: California Central Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 15, Number 2252. June 15, 1858. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
The experiment bids fair to demonstrate that Chinese laborers can be profitably employed in grading railroads in California.
- ^ a b c Tutorow, Norman E. (2004). "Chapter 6: Building the CPRR of California 1863-1869". The Governor: The life and legacy of Leland Stanford (PDF). Spokane, Washington: Arthur H. Clark Co. ISBN 0870623265.
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ignored (help) - ^ "CALIFORNIA CENTRAL RAILROAD". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 16, Number 2386. November 19, 1858. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
The railroad bridge will consist of a single span of 213 feet, containing 160,000 feet of lumber, and 5,000 pounds of iron.
- ^ "CALIFORNIA CENTRAL RAILROAD". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 16, Number 243. January 20, 1859. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
The work has been heavy, and of an exceedingly difficult and expensive character... This material has been encountered in three main cuts on this division, and has rendered the use of powder necessary, it refusing to yield to the means ordinarily employed in excavating.
- ^ a b "LAYING THE TRACK". Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 18, Number 2734. December 31, 1859. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
the work of laying the iron for the track commenced yesterday at Folsom...to enable cars to cross the splendid bridge built by the company across the American river. This bridge is the first railroad bridge of any importance built in the State... the crossing of the river upon it by a locomotive may be classed as quite an event in the history of railroad progress in California. The American will be the first river crossed by a train of cars.
- ^ "The California Central Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. San Joaquin Republican, Volume IX, Number 279. November 24, 1859. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "The new town of Lincoln". cdnc.ucr.edu. Daily National Gazette, Volume 2, Number 18. November 26, 1859. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
The new town of Lincoln, located at Auburn Ravine on Mr. S. R. Wymans Ranch, bids fair to become a town of some note. It will be the depot for the California Central Railroad; and will be the nearest point to the Railroad from Nevada and Sierra counties.
- ^ "California Central Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 18, Number 2776. February 18, 1860. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
Wednesday [15th], the locomotive Sacramento, the pioneer of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, crossed the bridge over the American river at Folsom with four freight cars. The cars were loaded with about thirty tons of iron and ties for the California Central Railroad.
- ^ Schwieterman, J.P. (2004). When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line Abandonment. Vol. 2. Truman State University Press. p. 40. ISBN 9781931112147. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ "Railroad Matters". cdnc.ucr.edu. Weekly Butte Record, Volume 8, Number 50. October 19, 1861. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
On Monday last [14 October 1861] a regular train of passenger cars commenced running on the California Central Railroad, between Folsom and Lincoln.
- ^ "LINCOLN. — The town of Lincoln, at Auburn Ravine, Placer county". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 22, Number 3308. November 4, 1861. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
The town does not take its name from the present President of the United States, but from its founder, whose middle name is Lincoln. ... The completion of the railroad and the daily arrival of the locomotive has changed the appearance of the locality, and breathed into the town the breath of life.
- ^ "New Locomotive". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 23, Number 3466. May 8, 1862. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "Lincoln". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 23, Number 3527. July 18, 1862. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "YUBA RAILROAD". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 32, Number 4913. December 31, 1866. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "California Central Railroad". cndc.ucr.edu. Placer Herald, Volume 13, Number 35. April 29, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "RAILROADS IN CALIFORNIA. Central Pacific Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 28, Number 4300. January 2, 1865.
...the 26th of April, 1864, when the eighteen miles were completed, and the cars commenced running to the junction of the California Central Railroad.
- ^ "Sacramento Valley Railroad Purchase". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 29, Number 4494. August 17, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "PIXLEY'S EXPLANATION". cdnc.ucr.edu. Marysville Daily Appeal, Volume XII, Number 146. December 24, 1865. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
FRANK M. PIXLEY, Sacramento, Dec. 22, 1865.
- ^ "Change of Gauge. —The work of changing the gauge of the California Central Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. Placer Herald, Volume 14, Number 24. February 10, 1866.
- ^ "Sacramento.—The railroad bridge spanning the American River at Folsom has been condemned". cdnc.ucr.edu. Red Bluff Independent, Volume VII, Number 17. October 24, 1866.
- ^ "Brought to the City. — The rolling stock of the California Central Railroad". cdnc.ucr.edu. Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 34, Number 5145. September 24, 1867.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Local Railroad History Posts on the history of railroads in the Sacramento region, such as the CCRR, SPNRR, SVRR, with maps and images.