|
|
ORIGINS
|
| 1861 |
Central
Pacific Rail Road of California incorporated (June 28) to
build the western portion of first transcontinental railroad
in America (completed May 10, 1869). |
|
1865
|
Southern
Pacific Railroad Company is formed (Dec. 2) to build a transcontinental
railroad along a more southern route. |
| 1885 |
A
new entity, the Southern Pacific Company, combines holdings
of the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroad Co.,
among others (1884-85). |
| 1886 |
Southern
Pacific Branch Railway is incorporated (April 12) to build
portions of a route along the California coast between San
Francisco and Los Angeles. |
| |
SOUTHERN
PACIFIC BRANCH RAILWAY |
|
1886
|
Southern
Pacific Branch Railway crews begin grading north of Saugus
near Los Angeles (April). Company will build 91.5 miles of
track northwest to Ellwood in the Goleta Valley. |
|
|
Rails
reach Piru (Dec. 18). |
|
1887
|
Grading
commences west of the Ventura River (January). |
|
|
First
train reaches Santa Paula (Jan. 18). |
|
|
Scheduled
train service from Los Angeles to Santa Paula commences (Feb.
9). |
|
|
Grading
grading crosses Rincon Creek entering Santa Barbara County
(March). |
|
|
Track
work requires blasting on Ortega Hill, between modern-day
Summerland and Montecito (April). |
| |
First
trains arrive in Ventura (May 18). |
|
|
Rails
reach as far as Rincon Point (June 4). |
| |
Track
completed to Carpinteria (June 22). |
|
1887
(cont'd.)
|
Scheduled
train service begins between Los Angeles and Carpinteria (July
1). |
| |
Rails reach Miramar in Montecito area (Aug. 9). |
| |
Bridge
over estero on Santa Barbara's Eastside completed; rails laid
into city (Aug. 13) |
| |
First train arrives in Santa Barbara from Los Angeles (Aug.
18, about 4:00 PM with Engine No. 226 (a 4-4-0 locomotive),
six coaches, two sleepers ("San Diego" and "California")
and a baggage car.
|
| |
First
train leaves Santa Barbara for Los Angeles (Aug. 19, 11 AM). |
| |
Grading
takes place beyond Hope Ranch, west of Santa Barbara, along
the route of today's Vieja Drive (late August). |
| |
Rails completed to Mission Street on Santa Barbara's Westside
(Sept. 15). |
| |
Full Ventura Division opens. Construction halted at Ellwood
in Goleta Valley (Dec. 21). |
| |
CONTINUE:
2. Completion
Of The Coast Route, 1887-1901 |
