Esparto, California
Timeline of the ESPARTO- SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
July 27, 1868-California Pacific Railroad completes track from Vallejo - Elmira via Suisun. At Vallejo the California Pacific had a railroad ferry to San Francisco.
August 10, 1868- California Pacific completes Elmira - Dixon track, and reaches Sacramento in 1869/1870.
April 12, 1869- Vaca Valley Railroad incorporated in Vacaville to build line from California Pacific at Elmira to Vacaville.
May 10, 1869- On the same day the last spike was driven at Promontory Point, Utah to complete the Central Pacific Railroad/Union Pacific Railroad, grading commenced on the Vaca Valley Railroad.
June 7, 1869- Rails laid on Vaca Valley Railroad
June 16, 1869- The first train of the Vaca Valley Railroad was operated
June 21, 1869- track between Elmira and Vacaville (5 miles) placed into operation.
August 26, 1875- track between Vacaville and Winters (Winter's) (10 miles) opened via Allendale.
June 30, 1876 California Pacific Railroad sold to Central Pacific Railroad. Vaca Valley Railroad owns 19.5 miles of track.
February 19, 1877- Vaca Valley Railroad continues northwest expansion towards Madison and is renamed the Vaca Valley & Clear Lake Railroad.
May 1, 1877- track opened between Winters and Madison, a total of 27.4 miles from Elmira.
May 15, 1888- Vaca Valley & Clear Lake Railroad merged into the Northern Railway, (a Southern Pacific Railroad subsidiary. Northern Railway was created on this date as a consolidation of several smaller railroads.
July 1, 1888 Northern Railway opens 23.65 miles of track between Madison and Rumsey via Capay (Esparto).
April 14, 1898- Northern Railway consolidated into Southern Pacific Railroad. Line is known as the Rumsey Branch of SP.
April 15, 1934- Southern Pacific Railroad abandons track between Rumsey and Capay. Track removed between Rumsey and Capay. Line becomes SP's Capay Branch.
1943- Track abandoned from Esparto - Capay. Line becomes Southern Pacific’s Esparto Branch.
1957- Last passenger train operated between Elmira and Esparto.
March 7, 1975- Line abandoned between Vacaville - Esparto. Line becomes Southern Pacific’s Vacaville Branch.
1985 Last freight train operates on Vacaville Branch and Vacaville Branch abandoned between Elmira and Vacaville.