Re: SN abandonment question (circa 1960's) dates?
Author: Dr Zarkoff
Date: 03-30-2018 - 16:26
When the ship channel was built, the SN's line was severed between Saxon and Riverview. After this, there was no direct SN track connection between Dozier and Riverview, where the branch to Oxford connected. The track to Clarksburg connected to the branch.
> I understand after this the line was cut back to Lafayette and then Walnut Creek, but I don't understand if the line was being cut back due to BART or lack of freight service...
Mostly the loss of freight customers.
> It looks like it currently runs from the SP Moccoco line connection as far as Concorde.
Doesn't even make it to what used to be the Naval Weapons Depot. Although sections of the track is still in place, it's been out of service for 25-30 years.
> I remember reading that SN has an agreement with the ATSF for trackage rights, but I dont know on which of Santa Fe's lines,
Sac- Stockton (via the WP) and Stockton to Pittsburg via the Santa Fe. These were the detour trains and predated the loss of the ferry.
> because I remember and excursion from Walnut Creek to Pittsburgh on the SN in the 60s with a diesel and WP passenger equipment for BART Brass.
The "End of an Era Trip", which immediately presaged the sale of the SN R/W between Walnut Creek and Concord to BARTD.
> Yuba City and Marysville area to Montezuma (not affected by BART). It looks like the line was cut somewhere in between at least in one or two segments.
Divide your examination at Sacramento, because the former NE was chopped up piecemeal, a big portion of it being submerged under the Thermalito Afterbay.
> Former Sacramento Northern track now owned by Western Railway Museum in NOT ABANDONED. Technically it is embargoed. That way grade crossing protection and other California PUC regulations are still valid. The museum owns the track and the right of way land. The museum purchased the track for scrap value and SN donated the land to the museum.
WRM purchased the former SN track, and only the track, between Cannon and Montezuma. The SN/OA&E R/W is in the right of way bank ("Rails to Trails") with WRM named as custodian. The R/W between Dozier and Cannon is owned by the GSA.
> When was the track from Dozier to the Clarksburg branch connection (Sierra, Ex-YOLO SHORTLINE) abandoned?
Direct connection between Dozier and Clarksburg, via Riverview, was severed by the ship channel, c1960.
> When was the last freight out of Montezuma?
Around 1960.
> So after 1960, you still had SN diesel freights coming thru the old CAL-P from Sacramento west to Cannon to access frieght customers from Saxon to Montezuma?
Not very many of them, and not for very long (Libfarm to Montezuma).