Mining Railroads of California

Mining Railroads.

American Borax Company: Columbia Mine and Railroad.
36in Gauge. Known as the "ABC" Railroad locally, the American Borax Co. operated a short railroad connecting their Columbia mine with a processing plant in Daggett. A portion of the line utilized shared/leased trackage from the Waterloo Mining Company and was later purchased when that company ceased operation. The mine was closed and the equipment sold in 1907. Daggett, San Bernardino County. 1900 - 1907

Dairy Farm Mining Company.
36in Gauge. Constructed to carry copper ore from the Dairy Farm Mine to a transfer trestle along the Southern Pacific Railroad's mainline near Sheridan. The operation was short lived, operating a single season before shutting down. Sheridan to Van Trent, Placer County. 1913 – 1914

Merced Gold Mining Company.
36in Gauge. Formed in 1894 through the conglomeration of 26 quartz mines. Initially a 24" gravity tramway, the line purchased an 8 ton Porter locomotive in 1897 affectionately called the "Whistling Billy". The line helped extract nearly $800,000 worth of gold until operations ceased in 1904. Near Coulterville, Mariposa County. 1896 - 1904

Old Mission Portland Cement Company.
36in Gauge. Old Mission Portland Cement Company of San Juan Bautista, owned a gauge quarry railroad, and was associated with and was the majority owner of the standard gauge California Central Railroad (previously the San Juan Pacific Railway). This railroad connected the town of San Juan Bautista and the cement plant with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Chittenden on the Pajaro River. San Juan Bautista, San Benito County.

United States Gypsum Company.
36in Gauge. Started life as the Imperial Valley Gypsum and Oil Corporation, later owned by the Pacific Portland Cement Company. The United States Gypsum Company continues to operate the 20.5 mile line, hauling gypsum from the mine to the processing plant in Plaster City where it is transloaded to standard gauge cars on the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad. Plaster City, Imperial County. 1921 – Present