| By: | William H. Davis Jr. |
| Dates: | 1/22/2002 - 1/22/2002 |
| Album Info: | The San Joaquin Valley Railroad ( SJVR ) is one of several short line railroad companies & is part of the Sunset Division of RailAmerica. It operates about 408 miles of track primarily on several lines in California's Central Valley/San Joaquin Valley outside of Fresno, Ca. & Bakersfield, Ca. The SJVR has trackage rights over UP ( Former SP ) from Fresno, Ca. Goshen Jct. Famoso, Bakersfield, Algoso. The SJVR also operates for the Tulare Valley Railroad ( TVRR ) from Calwa to Corcoran & Famoso. There were 2 former San Joaquin Valley Railroads. One was owned by Leland Stanford in 1870 to build an 11.3 mile line from Lathrop, Ca. to the Stanislaus River & was consolidated into the Central Pacific Railroad. The second San Joaquin Valley Railroad operated from 1892 to 1893 between Fresno & Friant over 24.1 miles of track & was sold at foreclosure to the SP. In 1991 the SJVR operated the entire former SP line from Fresno to Famoso, but a portion north of Famoso was later abandoned. SJVR interchanges with the BNSF Railway at Fresno & Bakersfield & with the UP at Fresno & Goshen Jct. SJVR was originally owned by Kyle Railway. In 1992, the SJVR was created to obtain & operate several branch lines from the SP. From 1992 to 1997 the SJVR was owned by Kyle Railway. In 1997 SJVR's parent Kyle Railway was sold to States Rail. In 2002 SJVR's new parent States Rail was purchased by RailAmerica. Today the SJVR remains a shortline within the RailAmerica family of railroads. |
