Yreka Western Railroad

Yreka Western Railroad Company
Yreka Railroad Company
An ALCO MRS-1 at Yreka station.
TerminusYreka California
ConnectionsUnion Pacific Railroad in Montague CA
Commercial operations
Original gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Owned byRailmark Holdings
Operated byRailmark Holdings, Incorporated
Reporting markYW
Length8.86-mile (14.26 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened1889
1888Yreka Railroad Company Incorporated
1889Rail Line Opened
1933Re-Incorporated as Yreka Western Railroad Company
1953Kyle Railways
Preservation history
1986Blue Goose Excursion Train Begins
1999Sold to Rocky Mountain Railway and Mining Museum
2016Ceased tourist operations
2017Sold to Railmark Holdings
HeadquartersYreka, California
Website
www.yrekawestern.com

The Yreka Western Railroad Company (reporting mark YW) 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.[1] Railmark Holdings acquired the Yreka Western Railroad in 2017.[2]

History

Route in 1931

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).[3]

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.[3] Not to be left without a rail connection, the citizens of Yreka formed their own railroad.[3] The railroad hauled passengers and local freight.[3]

In August 1933, the railroad was re-incorporated as the Yreka Western Railroad Company.[3] The railroad was acquired by Willis Kyle in 1953 who eventually formed the Kyle Railways empire.[3] Eventually, the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad acquired the SP connection at Montague in 1995.[3] 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. in January 2017.[3][2]

The railroad ceased tourist operations in 2016, today, the railroad continues to operate for online industries, transloading, railcar services, track construction and maintenance.[3] The railroad also continues in freight service such as wood chips, forest products, propane and transload commodities.[3]

Locomotives

Locomotive details[4][5][6][7]
Number Image Type Model Built Builder Notes
Unknown Diesel HLB 1929 Plymouth Locomotive Works Sold
1 Steam 2-4-2T 1889 Baldwin Locomotive Works Scrapped in 1930
2 Steam 4-4-0 1886 American Locomotive Company Unknown
3 Steam 4-4-0 1882 American Locomotive Company Scrapped in 1932
7 Steam 0-6-0 1914 American Locomotive Company Scrapped in 1956
8 Steam 0-6-0 1916 Baldwin Locomotive Works Scrapped in 1956
9 Steam 2-6-2 1901 Baldwin Locomotive Works Sold to Age of Steam Roundhouse
10 Steam 2-6-2 1901 Baldwin Locomotive Works Scrapped in 1944
18 Steam 2-8-2 1914 Baldwin Locomotive Works Sold to the McCloud Railway and later the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
19 Steam 2-8-2 1915 Baldwin Locomotive Works Sold to Age of Steam Roundhouse
20 Diesel SW8 1953 Electro-Motive Diesel Scrapped in 2011
21 Diesel SW8 1953 Electro-Motive Diesel Unknown
94 Steam Shay 1917 Lima Locomotive Works Scrapped in 1946
100 Steam 2-8-2 1953 American Locomotive Company Scrapped in 1955
100 (2nd) Diesel RDC-1 1953 Budd Company Woodland, California
244 Diesel MRS-1 1953 American Locomotive Company/General Electric Scrapped in 2011
439 Diesel SD9 1955 Electro-Motive Diesel Sold to Western Rail, Inc.
602 Diesel SW8 1952 Electro-Motive Diesel Sold to Western Rail, Inc.
603 Diesel S-1 1952 American Locomotive Company Sold to LWRY
604 Diesel S-1 1952 American Locomotive Company Scrapped in 1986
1171 Diesel S-4 1955 American Locomotive Company Scrapped in 1985
1172 Diesel S-4 1955 American Locomotive Company Scrapped in 1987

See also

References

  1. ^ "Scrapping history". The Siskiyou Daily News. April 19, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Railmark acquires Yreka Western Railroad". Progressive Railroading. January 27, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History". Yreka Western Railroad. November 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "Yreka Western Railroad". Trainweb.org. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  5. ^ "Steam Locomotive #18". Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  6. ^ "Steam Locomotive #19". www.mccloudriverrailroad.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  7. ^ David Smith (October 7, 2016). "Yreka's Old No. 19 steam engine headed to Ohio". The Siskiyou Daily News. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yreka_Railroad