Fernley and Lassen Railway
Encyclopedia
The Fernley & Lassen was constructed in 1912-1914 between Fernley, Nevada
and Westwood, California
, near Susanville
, a distance of approximately 112 miles (180.2 km). The railroad was constructed to connect the Red River Lumber Company's facilities in Westwood
with the Southern Pacific's main line running through Fernley
. After the railroad's construction, it was heavily used by other nearby lumber companies; the Fruit Growers Supply Company maintained the longest-lived railroad connection with the Fernley & Lassen, with an active connection present between 1920-1953. Due to the Great Depression
, which significantly lowered freight volume, and the completion of Western Pacific
's competing branch to Westwood, however, the Fernley & Lassen's days were numbered. By 1934, passenger traffic service had been discontinued, with local rail freighting following it in 1956. In 1978, the Interstate Commerce Commission
approved the Southern Pacific's petition for removal.
to Wadsworth, then parallels Nevada State Route 447 until the railroad veers westward just south of Nixon
. From there, it briefly parallels Nevada State Route 446
until it merges with Pyramid Highway
. From there, it parallels Pyramid Highway through Sutcliffe
and Zenobia, until it veers sharply to the west and starts paralleling High Rock Road. In Flanigan, the Fernley & Lassen intersects the original Western Pacific Railroad, then continues on to Wendel, California
. From Wendel, it heads due west, passing by the northern coast of Honey Lake
, then through Litchfield
and Leavitt
, until finally reaching Susanville
. From Susanville, the right-of-way continues into the Sierra Nevada range and on to Westwood.
In Fernley, the original depot has been restored, as has the depot in Susanville. From Susanville to Westwood, the right-of-way, including the grading and original bridges, has been converted into the Bizz Johnson Trail.
Fernley, Nevada
Fernley is a city in Lyon County, Nevada, United States, within Reno-Sparks-Lake Tahoe metropolitan. The city incorporated in 2001, including land in Washoe County; prior to that it was a census-designated place . The population of the CDP was 8,543 at the 2000 census; the city itself had an...
and Westwood, California
Westwood, California
Westwood is a census-designated place in Lassen County, California, United States. Westwood is located west-southwest of Susanville, at an elevation of 5128 feet...
, near Susanville
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
, a distance of approximately 112 miles (180.2 km). The railroad was constructed to connect the Red River Lumber Company's facilities in Westwood
Westwood, California
Westwood is a census-designated place in Lassen County, California, United States. Westwood is located west-southwest of Susanville, at an elevation of 5128 feet...
with the Southern Pacific's main line running through Fernley
Fernley, Nevada
Fernley is a city in Lyon County, Nevada, United States, within Reno-Sparks-Lake Tahoe metropolitan. The city incorporated in 2001, including land in Washoe County; prior to that it was a census-designated place . The population of the CDP was 8,543 at the 2000 census; the city itself had an...
. After the railroad's construction, it was heavily used by other nearby lumber companies; the Fruit Growers Supply Company maintained the longest-lived railroad connection with the Fernley & Lassen, with an active connection present between 1920-1953. Due to the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, which significantly lowered freight volume, and the completion of Western Pacific
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
's competing branch to Westwood, however, the Fernley & Lassen's days were numbered. By 1934, passenger traffic service had been discontinued, with local rail freighting following it in 1956. In 1978, the Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
approved the Southern Pacific's petition for removal.
Route
Coming from Fernley, the Fernley & Lassen roughly follows modern-day Nevada State Route 427Nevada State Route 427
State Route 427 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Nevada. It connects the community of Wadsworth in eastern Washoe County to the city of Fernley in western Lyon County. SR 427 comprises the former routing of U.S. Route 40 through the towns it serves...
to Wadsworth, then parallels Nevada State Route 447 until the railroad veers westward just south of Nixon
Nixon, Nevada
Nixon is a census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, USA. The population was 418 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. From there, it briefly parallels Nevada State Route 446
Nevada State Route 446
State Route 446 , is a state route that runs from SR 445 to SR 447 ....
until it merges with Pyramid Highway
Nevada State Route 445
State Route 445 is a state highway in Washoe County, Nevada. The route follows Pyramid Way, a major thoroughfare in the city of Sparks, and connects the Reno metropolitan area to Pyramid Lake . The route is designated a Nevada Scenic Byway....
. From there, it parallels Pyramid Highway through Sutcliffe
Sutcliffe, Nevada
Sutcliffe is a census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 281 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sutcliffe is located at ....
and Zenobia, until it veers sharply to the west and starts paralleling High Rock Road. In Flanigan, the Fernley & Lassen intersects the original Western Pacific Railroad, then continues on to Wendel, California
Wendel, California
Wendel is an unincorporated community in Lassen County, California. It is located east-southeast of Susanville, at an elevation of 4012 feet . Wendel's ZIP Code is 96136....
. From Wendel, it heads due west, passing by the northern coast of Honey Lake
Honey Lake
Honey Lake is an endorheic sink within the Honey Lake Valley located in northeastern California, near the Nevada border. Summer evaporation reduces the lake to a lower level of 12 km² and creates an alkali flat....
, then through Litchfield
Litchfield, California
Litchfield is a census-designated place in Lassen County, California. It is located east of Susanville, at an elevation of 4065 feet . The population was 195 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and Leavitt
Leavitt, California
Leavitt is an unincorporated community in Lassen County, California, United States. It is located alongside the Southern Pacific Railroad east of Susanville, and 7 miles west of Litchfield, at an elevation of ....
, until finally reaching Susanville
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
. From Susanville, the right-of-way continues into the Sierra Nevada range and on to Westwood.
In Fernley, the original depot has been restored, as has the depot in Susanville. From Susanville to Westwood, the right-of-way, including the grading and original bridges, has been converted into the Bizz Johnson Trail.