Central Business District in Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Western Pacific Railroad
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, January 17, 2020
1. Western Pacific Railroad Marker
Inscription.
Western Pacific Railroad. . In 1909, Western Pacific Railroad built a freight depot near the Sacramento waterfront and began rail service to R Street. The rail line ran on the back side of the buildings on the north side of R Street, parallel to Whitney Alley. The line extended from 7th Street to 19th Street where the tracks connected to Western Pacific's mainline.
Over 70 years, Western Pacific's rail line transported goods for numerous warehouses and production facilities that flourished on R Street.
Today the Sacramento Regional Transit District utilizes Western Pacific's former rail right-of-way from 10th to 19th streets for its light rail transit system.
In 1909, Western Pacific Railroad built a freight
depot near the Sacramento waterfront and began
rail service to R Street. The rail line ran on the back
side of the buildings on the north side of R Street,
parallel to Whitney Alley. The line extended from 7th
Street to 19th Street where the tracks connected to
Western Pacific's mainline.
Over 70 years, Western Pacific's rail line transported
goods for numerous warehouses and production
facilities that flourished on R Street.
Today the Sacramento Regional Transit District
utilizes Western Pacific's former rail right-of-way
from 10th to 19th streets for its
light rail transit system.
Erected 2011 by City of Sacramento, Capitol Area Redevelopment Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 38° 34.249′ N, 121° 29.672′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in the Central Business District. It is at the intersection of R Street and 12th Street, on the right when traveling west on R Street. Touch for map. Marker
Click or scan to see this page online
is in this post office area: Sacramento CA 95811, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley and specifically in the Central Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, January 17, 2020
2. Western Pacific Railroad Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here in the left foreground, embedded in the sidewalk.
"The Western Pacific Railroad (reporting mark WP) 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. WP's Feather River Route directly competed with SP's portion of the Overland Route for rail traffic between Salt Lake City/Ogden, Utah, and Oakland, California, for nearly 80 years. In 1982, the Western Pacific was acquired by the Union Pacific Corporation and it was soon merged into their Union Pacific Railroad. The Western Pacific was one of the original operators of the California Zephyr." (Submitted on January 19, 2020.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, January 17, 2020
3. Former right of way utilized by the Western Pacific Railroad - looking north from 12th Street
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 380 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 19, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
