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ORIGINS
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1861
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Central
Pacific Rail Road of California incorporated (June 28) to
build the western portion of first transcontinental railroad
in America (completed May 10, 1869).
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1865
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Southern
Pacific Railroad Company is formed (Dec. 2) to build a transcontinental
railroad along a more southern route.
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1885
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A
new entity, the Southern Pacific Company, combines holdings
of the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroad Co.,
among others (1884-85).
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1886
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Southern
Pacific Branch Railway is incorporated (April 12) to build
portions of a route along the California coast between San
Francisco and Los Angeles.
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SOUTHERN
PACIFIC BRANCH RAILWAY
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1886
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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.
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Rails
reach Piru (Dec. 18).
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1887
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Grading
commences west of the Ventura River (January).
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First
train reaches Santa Paula (Jan. 18).
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Scheduled
train service from Los Angeles to Santa Paula commences (Feb.
9).
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Grading
grading crosses Rincon Creek entering Santa Barbara County
(March).
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Track
work requires blasting on Ortega Hill, between modern-day
Summerland and Montecito (April).
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First
trains arrive in Ventura (May 18).
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Rails
reach as far as Rincon Point (June 4).
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Track
completed to Carpinteria (June 22).
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1887
(cont'd.)
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Scheduled
train service begins between Los Angeles and Carpinteria (July
1).
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Rails reach Miramar in Montecito area (Aug. 9).
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Bridge
over estero on Santa Barbara's Eastside completed; rails laid
into city (Aug. 13)
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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.
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First
train leaves Santa Barbara for Los Angeles (Aug. 19, 11 AM).
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Grading
takes place beyond Hope Ranch, west of Santa Barbara, along
the route of today's Vieja Drive (late August).
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Rails completed to Mission Street on Santa Barbara's Westside
(Sept. 15).
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Full Ventura Division opens. Construction halted at Ellwood
in Goleta Valley (Dec. 21).
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CONTINUE:
2. Completion
Of The Coast Route, 1887-1901
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