Coalinga in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Coalinga’s First Rail Station – 1891

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 22, 2013

1. Coalinga’s First Rail Station – 1891 Marker

Inscription. In the 1880’s coal was being mined in the hills of southwestern Fresno Co. In 1888 the Southern Pacific Railroad extended it’s line from Goshen to Alcade, south and west of present day Coalinga. A spur line was built from the mine to the railhead. Coaling stations B and C were on the spur line.
Coalinga really began to develop in the early 1890’s when oil was discovered. In 1891 Frederick Tibbits opened a saloon, on F Street; the railroad depot, and Louis O’Neill built a store. In 1896 the first big well was brought in at a thousand barrels a day. The railroad opened Coalinga’s doors to the world and the world came to develop markets for this oil.

Coalinga S.P. Time Table
April 28, 1912
Leave
No. 60; 6.00 A.M.
No. 62; 5:30 P.M.
Arrive
No. 73; 9:30 P.M.
No. 69: 10:00 P.M.

No. 60 connects at Goshen Junction with trains going north and south and at Armona for Westside town.
No.62 carries San Francisco and Los Angeles sleepers and connects at the Goshen Junction for the north and southbound trains.
No. 73 carries San Francisco and Los Angeles sleepers.

Erected by Coalinga Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1905.

Location. 36° 8.334′ N, 120° 21.524′

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W. Marker is in Coalinga, California, in Fresno County. It is on South 5th Street just south of East Forest Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 South 5th Street, Coalinga CA 93210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Coalinga’s Notorious Whiskey Row “1909” (within shouting distance of this marker); A.P. May Inc. (within shouting distance of this marker); Fredrick Tibbits and Louis O’Neill (within shouting distance of this marker); Sullivan Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Bordagaray’s (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Crescent Meat Co. (about 500 feet away); Coalinga Opera House (about 600 feet away); The Earthquake of 1983 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coalinga.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 22, 2013

2. Coalinga’s First Rail Station – 1891 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,062 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.