Southern Pacific Railroad History Center

Southern Pacific Commute Train No. 123 near Paul Ave. just outside downtown San Francisco. E K Muller photo courtesy of Western Railway Museum

Southern Pacific Saugus, California agent, Bob Guthrie, hangs train orders for a westbound train. Unknown photographer

Extra 9265 West passes the Black Butte, California water plug in the late 80s Robert Morris photo

Southern Pacific steam locomotive 2312 rests at the old Paradise, California station. Unknown photographer.

Southern Pacific Train No. 51, the "San Joaquin Daylight", makes the station stop at Fresno, California in the late 60s. Cliff Black collection

A Roseville, California mechanical department employee poses for the camera in the Roseville Yard. Bruce Holder collection

Sacramento to Oakland Pier Train No. 229 passes the Mikon Tower just west of Sacramento, California. Larry Foster collection

A well powered eastbound TOFC train near Marfa, Texas in October, 1981. Bob Allan photo

A westbound freight train enters Los Angeles Taylor Yard in the early 60s. Robert Morris photo

Train No. 98, the "Coast Daylight", races through Carpinteria, California. Bob Slocum photo, courtesy of Western Railway Museum

Just a couple of years after the previous photo, the "Coast Daylight" has new ALCO passenger locomotives that have replaced the steam power as it races by Carpinteria, California. Cliff Black collection

The Sacramento Division Superintendent and Roseville Terminal Superintendent pose with a Roseville switch crew at the Roseville Yard. Bruce Holder collection

Train No. 75, the "Lark", arrives Southern Pacific's downtown San Francisco station at 3rd and Townsend in August 1967. Marty Bernard collection, Roger Puta photo

Southern Pacific Extra 3810 West on the Tucumcari Line just outside of El Paso, Texas in 1950. Cliff Black collection

Southern Pacific Extra 8012 West roars by a Burlington Northern TOFC train just outside Chicago in June 1991. Sean Graham-White collection

Southern Pacific Extra 4360 East works upgrade near Niles, California in 1980. Jim Evans photo

A westbound freight drops down into Caliente, California nearly completing its run through the Tehachapi mountain range in April 1978. Ed Graham photo courtesy Western Railway Museum

Train No. 51, the "San Joaquin Daylight", stops for mail and passengers at the Glendale, California station in the early 50s. Cliff Black collection

Southern Pacific passenger unit 6456 poses proudly for the photographer at an unknown station while handling train No. 6, the "Argonaut". Unknown photographer

The "Del Monte" departs San Francisco in 1966. J. B. West photo

The "Big Hook" is working the December 1966 derailment of the "Smokey" at Burbank Junction, California. Dave Houston collection

A Bakersfield, California switch engine goes about its duties in December 1964. Pete Baumhefner photo

Scrapped boxcars are used to bolster the Great Salt Lake fill as high waters attempt to flood it during 1982-1983. Doug Harrop photo

Southern Pacific Extra 6671 West passes another freight train at Maud, Texas on the Cotton Belt Line in July 1973. Dave Bernstein photo

WHAT'S NEW

IN DEPTH

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide a digital presentation of the history of the Southern Pacific System from the creation of its first predecessor company in 1853 until its merger with Union Pacific in 1996, through a comprehensive, searchable website. Our objective is to present Southern Pacific’s rich history by providing documents, photographs, graphs, drawings, maps, videos, podcasts, Zoom interviews and presentations, and more related to the diverse group of women and men from multiple national origins who were instrumental in the success of the Southern Pacific.

A railroad bridge over an arm of the Llano River, on Southern Pacific’s abandoned 29-mile branch line between Burnet and Llano, Texas. This photo was taken in April 2012 by Buddy Park.

VISION

The vision of the Southern Pacific History Center is to create an online digital library consisting of Southern Pacific System related documents, photographs, drawings, maps, videos, podcasts, Zoom interviews and presentations, and more for research and the enjoyment of future generations to come.

We welcome all to become members of the History Center regardless of race, color, sexual orientation, religion or not, national origin, disability, or age.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC LIVES HERE

WHAT'S NEW

IN DEPTH

OUR MISSION

VISION

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