The Yreka Western Railroad Company is a shortline railroad that operates freight trains and formerly passenger excursions between the Central Oregon & Pacific interchange at Montague and the city of Yreka, California. Railmark Holdings acquired the Yreka Western Railroad in 2017.
History
The Yreka Railroad Company was incorporated in May 1888, with a capital stock of $100,000, and opened in January 1889, connecting Yreka to the Southern Pacific Company lessor Central Pacific Railroad (ex-California and Oregon Railroad).
The decision to build the Yreka Railroad was due in part to the Southern Pacific's decision to bypass Yreka in favor of a shorter, and more level route through the Shasta Valley and the city of Montague. Not to be left without a rail connection, the citizens of Yreka formed their own railroad. The railroad hauled passengers and local freight.
In August 1933, the railroad was re-incorporated as the Yreka Western Railroad Company. The railroad was acquired by Willis Kyle in 1953 who eventually formed the Kyle Railways empire. Eventually, the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad acquired the SP connection at Montague in 1995. In 1999, Kyle Railways sold the Yreka Western Railroad to the Rocky Mountain Railway and Mining Museum of Denver Colorado, who in turn, sold the company to Railmark Holdings, Inc. on January 1, 2017.
The railroad ceased tourist operations in 2016, today, the railroad continues to operate for online industries, transloading, railcar services, track construction and maintenance. The railroad also continues in freight service such as wood chips, forest products, propane and transload commodities.
Locomotives +Locomotive detailsNumberImageTypeModelBuiltBuilderNotesUnknownDieselHLB1929Plymouth Locomotive WorksSold1Steam1889Baldwin Locomotive WorksScrapped in 19302Steam1886American Locomotive CompanyUnknown3Steam1882American Locomotive CompanyScrapped in 19327Steam1914American Locomotive CompanyScrapped in 19568Steam0-6-01916Baldwin Locomotive WorksScrapped in 19569Steam1901Baldwin Locomotive WorksSold to Age of Steam Roundhouse10Steam2-6-21901Baldwin Locomotive WorksScrapped in 194418Steam1914Baldwin Locomotive WorksSold to the McCloud Railway and later the Virginia and Truckee Railroad19Steam2-8-21915Baldwin Locomotive WorksSold to Age of Steam Roundhouse20DieselSW81953Electro-Motive DieselScrapped in 201121DieselSW81953Electro-Motive DieselUnknown94SteamShay1917Lima Locomotive WorksScrapped in 1946100Steam2-8-21953American Locomotive CompanyScrapped in 1955100 (2nd)DieselRDC-11953Budd CompanyWoodland, California244DieselMRS-11953American Locomotive Company/General ElectricScrapped in 2011439DieselSD91955Electro-Motive DieselSold to Western Rail, Inc.602DieselSW81952Electro-Motive DieselSold to Western Rail, Inc.603DieselS-11952American Locomotive CompanySold to LWRY604DieselS-11952American Locomotive CompanyScrapped in 19861171DieselS-41955American Locomotive CompanyScrapped in 19851172DieselS-41955American Locomotive CompanyScrapped in 1987
See also
List of heritage railroads in the United States
References
External links