Trona Railway

Trona Railway
Reporting mark	TRC
Locale	Mojave Desert, California
Dates of operation	March 12, 1913–Present
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters	Trona, California

The Trona Railway (reporting mark TRC) is a 30.5 mi (49.1 km) shortline railroad owned by Searles Valley Minerals.

The TRC interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad (former Southern Pacific Transportation Company) at Searles, California.

The railroad has had various owners including Searles Valley Minerals (present), IMC Global, North American Chemical and Kerr-McGee Chemical.

Operations

Traffic

The TRC handles 18,000 cars annually (1996 estimate). Commodities hauled include:

• Sulfuric acid
• Soda ash
• Potash
• Salt cake
• Borax
• Coal
• Minerals
• Material for the U.S. Navy China Lake Facility

Passenger Service

Passenger train service was offered on the TRC but was discontinued in 1937.

References

• Fickewirth, Alvin A. (1992). California railroads: an encyclopedia of cable car, common carrier, horsecar, industrial, interurban, logging, monorail, motor road, shortlines, streetcar, switching and terminal railroads in California (1851-1992). San Marino, CA: Golden West Books. ISBN 0-87095-106-8. 
• Stindt, Fred A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide (5th Edition ed.). Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 0-89024-290-9. 
• Walker, Mike (1997). Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - California and Nevada (Post Merger Edition ed.). Kent, United Kingdom: Steam Powered Publishing. ISBN 1-874745-08-0.