Southern Pacific Railroad

Quick Facts

Year Founded	1865
Year of Demise	1998 Merged with UP
Total Track Mileage	13,500
Number of States was Located In	15
Headquarters	San Francisco, CA

Information and History

The Southern Pacific Railroad, also known as SP, was a historic American railroad that operated from 1865 to 1996. The railroad was originally created to provide a rail link between San Francisco and San Diego, but it grew to become a major transportation network connecting the entire western United States.

The Southern Pacific Railroad was founded on October 12, 1865, by a group of investors led by Timothy Phelps, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, and Mark Hopkins. The original line ran from San Francisco to San Jose, California. Over the next few decades, the railroad expanded its operations, building new lines throughout California and eventually extending into Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Southern Pacific Railroad was involved in a number of mergers and acquisitions. In 1983, the railroad attempted to merge with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, but the merger was blocked by the US government. In 1901, the Southern Pacific acquired the Central Pacific Railroad, its former rival in the transcontinental railroad construction, and later on, it also acquired the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, the Pacific Electric Railway, and other smaller railroads.

In 1988, the Southern Pacific Railroad was acquired by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in a merger that created the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. However, just a few years later, in 1996, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad.

One of the most significant events in the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad was the retirement of its steam locomotives. The railroad was one of the last in the United States to operate steam locomotives, with the last steam locomotive running in 1957.

The Southern Pacific Railroad operated a number of famous passenger trains over the years, including the Sunset Limited, which ran from New Orleans to Los Angeles, and the Golden State, which ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. Other notable trains included the Daylight, which ran along the California coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and the Overland Limited, which ran from San Francisco to Chicago. These trains were known for their luxurious accommodations and exceptional service.

Today, there are a number of surviving Southern Pacific steam locomotives, many of which are on display in museums or private collections. Some are even still in operation, including the Southern Pacific 4449, which is often used for excursions and special events.

Amtrak currently operates several routes on former Southern Pacific lines, including the Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles, and the Coast Starlight, which runs from Los Angeles to Seattle. In addition, several commuter railroads, including the Caltrain in California, operate on former Southern Pacific lines.

In conclusion, the Southern Pacific Railroad was a significant part of American history, connecting the western United States with its network of rail lines and famous passenger trains. Although it is no longer in operation, its legacy lives on through its surviving steam locomotives and the continued use of its former lines by Amtrak and commuter railroads.

Surviving Steam Locomotives

There are 64 surviving Southern Pacific steam locomotives

A list of them can be found here:

https://steamlocomotive.com/survivors/search.php?railroad=SP&country=USA

The three notable steam engines that still exist and are operational:

Engine Number	Type	Location
4449	4-8-4 GS4	Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland, OR
2472	4-6-2 P-8	Schellville, CA
18	4-6-0 narrow gauge	Independence, CA

Riding the Line

Amtrak Train Name	Sunset Limited
End Point Stations	New Orleans, Los Angeles
Closest Airport to New Orleans Amtrak Station	Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport – 15.7 miles away
Closest Airport to Los Angeles Amtrak Station	The nearest airport to Union Station is Hawthorne (HHR) Airport which is 11.6 miles away. Other nearby airports include Burbank (BUR) (11.8 miles), Los Angeles (LAX) (12.5 miles)
Time train leaves New Orleans	9:00 AM Central Time
Time train leaves Los Angeles	5:55 PM Pacific Time
Number of hours of travel	47 hours
Cost of a Coach Seat	$142.00
Other services and upgrades available	Roomette Bedroom Bedroom Suite Family Bedroom Accessible Bedroom Traditional Dining

Amtrak Train Name	Coast Starlight
End Point Stations	Portland OR, Los Angeles CA
Closest Airport to Portland Amtrak Station	Portland International Airport (PDA)
Closest Airport to Los Angeles Amtrak Station	The nearest airport to Union Station is Hawthorne (HHR) Airport which is 11.6 miles away. Other nearby airports include Burbank (BUR) (11.8 miles), Los Angeles (LAX) (12.5 miles)
Time train leaves Portland	2:22 PM Pacific Time
Time train leaves Los Angeles	9:51 AM Pacific Time
Number of hours of travel	30 Hours
Cost of a Coach Seat	$114.00
Other services and upgrades available	Roomette Bedroom Bedroom Suite Family Bedroom Accessible Bedroom Traditional Dining

Amtrak Train Name	Pacific Surfliner
End Point Stations	San Diego CA, San Luis Obispo CA
Closest Airport to the San Diego Amtrak Station	San Diego International Airport
Closest Airport to San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County Apt (SBP)
Time train leaves San Diego	4:01 AM Pacific Time
Time train leaves San Luis Obispo	4:00 AM Pacific Time
Number of hours of travel	9 hours
Cost of a Coach Seat	$62.00
Other services and upgrades available	Café Service Business class