Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad facts for kids

The Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad was a railway company that started in California in 1895. Its main job was to carry coal from mines in a place called Corral Hollow. The railroad line stretched for about 36.6 miles (58.9 kilometers). It connected the coal mines near Tesla to towns like Carbona, Tracy, Lathrop, and Stockton. This railroad was built quickly in 1895. After a few years, in 1903, a bigger company called the Western Pacific Railway (WP) bought it.

The Railroad's Path

The Alameda and San Joaquin Railroad had a specific path it followed. It started near the coal mines and went through several small towns.

Original Route

The first part of the railroad ran from the coal mines at Tesla to Carbona. This section was later closed down by the Western Pacific Railway in 1916.

Here are some of the places the train passed through on this part of the line:

• Tesla (located in Corral Hollow)
• Harrietville
• Walden Pottery
• Carnegie
• Manganese
• River Rock
• Kerlinger
• Carbona

Main Line to Stockton

The rest of the railroad line, from Carbona all the way to Stockton, became a very important route. It was used by the Western Pacific Railway as part of their main line. Today, this same path is still used by the Union Pacific Railroad.

Here are the towns along this busy part of the route:

• Carbona
• Tracy
• Lyoth
• Wyche
• Lathrop (near Sharpe Army Depot)
• French Camp
• Ortega
• Stockton Yard
• Stockton Tower