Coalinga’s First Rail Station – 1891

Coalinga’s First Rail Station – 1891. . 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..