San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad

The San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad was a California rail line between Stockton and Bakersfield constructed in the late 1890s and very shortly thereafter purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and became their Valley Division.^[1]^[2]

The impetus for building the line was the monopoly position of the Southern Pacific Railroad, it being thought that a competitor would lower the prices being charged to farmers to ship their crops to San Francisco. Claus Spreckels, a leading sugar manufacturer, pledged $500,000 for the building of the line in January 1895, if $3,000,000 more could be raised. Many small investors contributed funds, giving it the nickname the "People's Railroad".^[2] The line was constructed between 1895 and 1898. The first passenger train from Stockton to Fresno ran on October 5, 1896, to great fanfare.^[3] Bakersfield also held a big celebration when it was reached on May 27, 1898. In both cases, news reports trumpeted how the towns were now free of the "tyranny" of Southern Pacific's monopoly.^[2]^[4]

The quick sale to the Santa Fe before the end of 1898^[5]^[6] disappointed many, but many backers believed combining with a larger partner was key to the line's success.^[7]

The line still exists today as BNSF's Stockton Subdivision from Richmond to Fresno, and as the Bakersfield Subdivision from Fresno to Bakersfield. The San Joaquins runs along this route.

^ Walker's Manual of Far Western Corporations & Securities, Volume 5, Part 1913, p. 183
^ ^a ^b ^c Hooper, Ken (26 December 2014). History: Bakersfield freed from railroad tyranny, The Bakersfield Californian
^ (6 October 1896). Fresno Freed From Monopoly's Shackles, San Francisco Call
^ (28 May 1898). Bakerfield Freed From Tyranny, San Francisco Call
^ (10 December 1898). Valley Road Deal, Los Angeles Herald
^ (20 October 1898). Confirmed Again, Los Angeles Herald
^ Daggett, Stuart. Chapters on the history of the Southern Pacific, pp. 317-45 (1966)

[line1-1] Walker's Manual of Far Western Corporations & Securities, Volume 5, Part 1913, p. 183

[bakers1-2] Hooper, Ken (26 December 2014). History: Bakersfield freed from railroad tyranny, The Bakersfield Californian

[fresn-3] (6 October 1896). Fresno Freed From Monopoly's Shackles, San Francisco Call

[freed-4] (28 May 1898). Bakerfield Freed From Tyranny, San Francisco Call

[sale-5] (10 December 1898). Valley Road Deal, Los Angeles Herald

[confirmedagain-6] (20 October 1898). Confirmed Again, Los Angeles Herald

[history-7] Daggett, Stuart. Chapters on the history of the Southern Pacific, pp. 317-45 (1966)

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