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Randsburg Railway
Former railroad / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Randsburg Railway was a 28.5-mile (45.9 km) branch line railroad in California's Mojave Desert. It originated at the main line of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF) at Kramer Junction, California, and terminated at Johannesburg, California, with a stop at Atolia. The Railway served as a supply link to the Rand Mine, which produced more silver than any mine in California. The Rand mine closed in 1929, as it was no longer profitable.[1][2]
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Overview | |
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Locale | Johannesburg, California |
Dates of operation | January 17, 1898–December 30, 1933 |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Length | 28.5-mile (45.9 km) |
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/CA_Randsburg_1903_62500.jpg/640px-CA_Randsburg_1903_62500.jpg)
The line was completed on January 5, 1898, and began operation on January 17, 1898. The railway was acquired by the AT&SF in 1903. During its 35-year history, the Randsburg Railway served a number of local mining operations; it also provided passenger service.
The Randsburg Railway ceased operations on December 30, 1933, a victim of the Great Depression and a decline in the mining industry. The rails were removed the following year. Portions of the grade are still visible along U.S. Route 395 between Kramer and Johannesburg.