California Northern
Railroad - (en)
The California Northern Railroad (AAR reporting marks CFNR) is one of
several Class III short-line railroad companies owned by RailAmerica, Inc.
It operates over Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) tracks (now Union Pacific
Railroad) under a long-term lease.
The CFNR was originally owned by the Park-Sierra Rail Group (owner David
L. Parkinson of St. Helena, CA), who also owned the Arizona &
California Railroad. The CFNR was later sold to RailAmerica.
Lines Operated
SP & Old NWP (Suisun/Fairfield
- Willits)
Current Suisun/Fairfield -
Schellville
Presently, the CFNR railroad only operates between Suisun/Fairfield to a
connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railway at Schellville,
California. The CFNR also operates into Vallejo, California over the
original California Pacific Railroad mainline that was constructed in
1867/1868. The CFNR also serves Napa Pipe at Napa, California.
The CFNR operates over the Union Pacific with trackage rights between
Suisun/Fairfield and Davis.
1993 Operation between
Schellville - Willits
Originally, in 1993 the CFNR operated much further than Schellville and
their operation extended as far north as Willits, California. At Willits
the CFNR interchanged with the North Coast Railroad. The North Coast
Railroad ran from Willits - Eureka, California over the old NWP.
The CFNR also interchanged with the California Western Railroad at Willits.
The California Western Railroad ran west from Willits to Fort Bragg,
California.
SP's West Valley Line (Davis -
Tehama)
The CFNR currently operates over SP's former West Valley Line. This line
between Woodland and Tehema was constructed by Central Pacific's
subsidiary, the Northern Railway. The track between Davis and Woodland was
built by the California Pacific Railroad and at one time extended as far
north as Yuba City/Marysville via Knight's Landing.
The California Pacific and Northern Railway/Central Pacific came under the
operational control of Southern Pacific between 1885-1888.
Construction Completion Timeline
September 23, 1869 Davis - Woodland - Knight's Landing (California Pacific
Railroad)
July 1, 1876 Woodland - Williams (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
December 28, 1879 Williams - Willows (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
July 31, 1882 Willows - Orland (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
September 27, 1882 Orland - Tehama (Northern Ry/Central Pacific)
July 1, 1888 Willows - Fruto
(West Side and Mendocino Railroad/Northern Ry) Branch currently ends at
Johns-Manville Fiberglass Plant west of Willows
