San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad
Encyclopedia
San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad (SF&NP) provided the first extensive standard gauge
rail service to Sonoma County and became the southern end of the regional Northwestern Pacific Railroad
. Sonoma County's first standard-gauge railroad was the 1-mile (1.6-km) Petaluma and Haystack Railroad connecting the city of Petaluma
with ferry service to San Francisco
from Haystack Landing on the Petaluma River
in 1864. Petaluma and Haystack coaches were pulled by horses after the locomotive exploded on 27 August 1866.
SF&NP began construction from Petaluma northward in 1869, but inability to make satisfactory arrangements with the City of Petaluma caused the railroad to establish a new southern ferry terminus on the Petaluma River at Donahue Landing. Service was extended north to Santa Rosa
in 1870, and Cloverdale
in 1872. The Fulton and Guerneville Railroad was formed in 1874 to build a SF&NP branch from Fulton to Guerneville
on the Russian River
. The branch was completed in 1877.
In 1879, the SF&NP was extended south through Petaluma to San Rafael
in Marin County. The San Francisco and San Rafael Railroad was formed in 1882 to extend the SF&NP south another 3 miles (5 km) to a new ferry landing in Tiburon
. SF&NP ferry terminal facilities were moved to Tiburon in 1884; and Donahue Landing faded into the rural countryside.
The Cloverdale and Ukiah Railroad was formed in 1886 to extend the SF&NP north to Ukiah
in Mendocino County. Service began to Ukiah in 1889. The Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Green Valley Railroad was formed in 1889 to build a SF&NP branch from Santa Rosa
to Sebastopol
. The branch was completed in 1890.
The California Northwestern Railway Company was formed in 1898 as part of Southern Pacific Railroad
ambitions to reach the redwood lumber mills around Humboldt Bay. SF&NP struggled through the panic of 1893, and was leased by the California Northwestern in 1898. California Northwestern oversaw eastward connections to the Southern Pacific Railroad
and northward extension to Willits
before merger into the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
in 1907.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
rail service to Sonoma County and became the southern end of the regional Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
. Sonoma County's first standard-gauge railroad was the 1-mile (1.6-km) Petaluma and Haystack Railroad connecting the city of Petaluma
Petaluma, California
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
with ferry service to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
from Haystack Landing on the Petaluma River
Petaluma River
The Petaluma River is a river in the California counties of Sonoma and Marin that becomes a tidal slough near its mouth. It springs from farmlands southwest of Cotati and flows generally southward through Petaluma's old town and of tidal marshes to end in northwest San Pablo Bay.-History:The word...
in 1864. Petaluma and Haystack coaches were pulled by horses after the locomotive exploded on 27 August 1866.
SF&NP began construction from Petaluma northward in 1869, but inability to make satisfactory arrangements with the City of Petaluma caused the railroad to establish a new southern ferry terminus on the Petaluma River at Donahue Landing. Service was extended north to Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
in 1870, and Cloverdale
Cloverdale, California
Cloverdale is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States. The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad reached Cloverdale in 1872. The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California is headquartered here...
in 1872. The Fulton and Guerneville Railroad was formed in 1874 to build a SF&NP branch from Fulton to Guerneville
Guerneville, California
Guerneville is a town in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California, USA. A popular vacation destination for couples and families as well as corporate retreats and family and friend reunions, Guerneville is well-known for its natural beauty, laid-back attitude, friendly population, good...
on the Russian River
Russian River (California)
The Russian River, a southward-flowing river, drains of Sonoma and Mendocino counties in Northern California. With an annual average discharge of approximately , it is the second largest river flowing through the nine county Greater San Francisco Bay Area with a mainstem 110 miles ...
. The branch was completed in 1877.
In 1879, the SF&NP was extended south through Petaluma to San Rafael
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
in Marin County. The San Francisco and San Rafael Railroad was formed in 1882 to extend the SF&NP south another 3 miles (5 km) to a new ferry landing in Tiburon
Tiburon, California
Tiburon is an incorporated town in Marin County, California. It occupies most of the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into the San Francisco Bay. The smaller city of Belvedere occupies the south-east part of the peninsula and is contiguous with Tiburon...
. SF&NP ferry terminal facilities were moved to Tiburon in 1884; and Donahue Landing faded into the rural countryside.
The Cloverdale and Ukiah Railroad was formed in 1886 to extend the SF&NP north to Ukiah
Ukiah, California
The average high temperature is 73.5 °F . Average low temperature is 46.1 °F . Temperatures reach 90 °F on an average of 65.6 days annually and 100 °F on an average of 14.4 days annually. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing...
in Mendocino County. Service began to Ukiah in 1889. The Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Green Valley Railroad was formed in 1889 to build a SF&NP branch from Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
to Sebastopol
Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
. The branch was completed in 1890.
The California Northwestern Railway Company was formed in 1898 as part of Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
ambitions to reach the redwood lumber mills around Humboldt Bay. SF&NP struggled through the panic of 1893, and was leased by the California Northwestern in 1898. California Northwestern oversaw eastward connections to the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
and northward extension to Willits
Willits, California
Willits is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Willits is located north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1391 feet . The population was 4,888 at the 2010 census, down from 5,073 at the 2000 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and its redwood forests...
before merger into the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
in 1907.
Route
- TiburonTiburon, CaliforniaTiburon is an incorporated town in Marin County, California. It occupies most of the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into the San Francisco Bay. The smaller city of Belvedere occupies the south-east part of the peninsula and is contiguous with Tiburon...
(1884) - San RafaelSan Rafael, CaliforniaSan Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
(1879) - LakevilleLakeville, CaliforniaLakeville is an unincorporated community in Sonoma County, California, United States. It is located near the Petaluma River about southeast of Petaluma....
- PetalumaPetaluma, CaliforniaPetaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
(1869) - Ely's
- Penn's Grove (i.e. PenngrovePenngrove, CaliforniaPenngrove is a census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States, situated between the cities of Petaluma and Cotati, at the foot of Sonoma Mountain. It is part of the North Bay subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area...
) - Goodwin's
- Page's (i.e. CotatiCotati, CaliforniaCotati is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California, U.S.A., located about north of San Francisco in the 101 corridor between Rohnert Park and Petaluma....
) - Cotate Ranch
- Oak Grove
- Santa RosaSanta Rosa, CaliforniaSanta Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
(1870) → connection (Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Green Valley Railroad) to SebastopolSebastopol, CaliforniaSebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
(1890) - Fulton → connection (Fulton and Guerneville Railroad) to Meacham's, Laguna, ForestvilleForestville, CaliforniaForestville is a census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States. The town came into existence during the late 1860s and was originally named Forrestville, after one its founders, but the spelling long ago became standardized with one "r". The population was 3,293 at the 2010...
, Green Valley, Korbel's and GuernevilleGuerneville, CaliforniaGuerneville is a town in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California, USA. A popular vacation destination for couples and families as well as corporate retreats and family and friend reunions, Guerneville is well-known for its natural beauty, laid-back attitude, friendly population, good...
(1877) - Mark WestMark West, CaliforniaMark West is an unincorporated community immediately north of Santa Rosa, California in Sonoma County, California, USA. Mark West is located along Mark West Springs Road adjacent to U.S. Highway 101...
- WindsorWindsor, CaliforniaWindsor is an incorporated town in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 26,801 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:Windsor is located on U.S. Route 101 in the Russian River valley, about southeast of Healdsburg, California....
- Grant's
- HealdsburgHealdsburg, CaliforniaHealdsburg is a city located in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 11,254...
- Litton's Springs
- GeyservilleGeyserville, CaliforniaGeyserville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, USA. Located in the Wine Country, it is noted by tourists for its restaurants, bed and breakfast inns, and wineries...
- Truett's
- CloverdaleCloverdale, CaliforniaCloverdale is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States. The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad reached Cloverdale in 1872. The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California is headquartered here...
(1872) - UkiahUkiah, CaliforniaThe average high temperature is 73.5 °F . Average low temperature is 46.1 °F . Temperatures reach 90 °F on an average of 65.6 days annually and 100 °F on an average of 14.4 days annually. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing...
(1889)
Locomotives
| Number | Name | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Josie | Norris Locomotive Works Norris Locomotive Works The Norris Locomotive Works was a steam locomotive manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that produced about a thousand railroad engines between 1832 and 1866. It was the dominant American locomotive producer during most of that period, and even sold its popular 4-2-0 engines... |
4-4-0 4-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels... |
1862 | 1009 | ex-San Francisco and San Jose Railroad #2 San Jose became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #4 |
| 2 | J.G.Downey | Booth | 4-4-0 | 1870 | 14 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #6 |
| 3 | W.J.Ralston | Booth | 4-4-0 | 1870 | 15 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #7 |
| 4 | Geyser | Booth | 4-4-0 | 1873 | 16 | scrapped 1904 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | Booth | 4-4-0 | 1873 | 17 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #5 |
| 6 | Cloverdale | Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works was a manufacturer of steam railway locomotives from 1867 to 1895, first in Paterson, New Jersey and then in Chicago. The company built approximately 1,888 locomotives.-Predecessors:... |
4-4-0 | 1878 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #11 |
|
| 7 | Petaluma | Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works was a manufacturer of steam railway locomotives from 1867 to 1895, first in Paterson, New Jersey and then in Chicago. The company built approximately 1,888 locomotives.-Predecessors:... |
4-4-0 | 1878 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #12 |
|
| 8 | San Rafael | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
4-4-0 | 1881 | 5485 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #8 |
| 9 | Marin | Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works was a manufacturer of steam railway locomotives from 1867 to 1895, first in Paterson, New Jersey and then in Chicago. The company built approximately 1,888 locomotives.-Predecessors:... |
4-4-0 | 1883 | 1664 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #9 |
| 10 | Healdsburg | Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works was a manufacturer of steam railway locomotives from 1867 to 1895, first in Paterson, New Jersey and then in Chicago. The company built approximately 1,888 locomotives.-Predecessors:... |
4-4-0 | 1883 | 1665 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #10 |
| 11 | Ukiah | Booth | 4-4-0 | 1874 | 30 | scrapped 1907 |
| 12 | Peter Donahue | Rogers Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1884 | 3305 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #19 |
| 13 | Tom Rogers | Rogers Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1884 | 3306 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #20 |
| 14 | Tiburon | Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works was a manufacturer of steam railway locomotives from 1867 to 1895, first in Paterson, New Jersey and then in Chicago. The company built approximately 1,888 locomotives.-Predecessors:... |
4-4-0 | 1888 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #14 |
|
| 15 | Eureka | Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works Grant Locomotive Works was a manufacturer of steam railway locomotives from 1867 to 1895, first in Paterson, New Jersey and then in Chicago. The company built approximately 1,888 locomotives.-Predecessors:... |
4-6-0 4-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular... |
1888 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #102 |
|
| 16 | Vichy | Rogers Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1889 | 4154 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #18 |
| 17 | Lytton | Rogers Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1889 | 4155 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #17 |
| 18 | Skaggs | Rogers Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1889 | 4212 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #101 |
| 19 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
4-6-0 | 1900 | 17759 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #110 |
|
| 20 | Richmond Locomotive Works Richmond Locomotive Works Richmond Locomotive Works was a steam locomotive manufacturing firm located in Richmond, Virginia. It began operation in 1887 and produced approximately 4,500 engines during its 40 years of operation... |
4-6-0 | 1901 | 3304 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #103 |
|
| 21 | American Locomotive Company American Locomotive Company The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:... |
4-6-0 | 1902 | 25620 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #105 |
|
| 22 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
4-6-0 | 1904 | 23933 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #107 |
|
| 23 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
4-6-0 | 1904 | 23951 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #108 |
|
| 24 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
4-4-0 | 1904 | 24035 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #21 |
|
| 25 | American Locomotive Company American Locomotive Company The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:... |
4-6-0 | 1902 | 25621 | became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #106 |