Randsburg Railway

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gaugeLength28.5-mile (45.9 km)

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]

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.

See also

• Trona Railway
• Calico and Odessa Railroad
• Death Valley Railroad

References

External links

• Randsburg/Johannesburg Railroad
• "Randsburg Railway History". Archived from the original on June 1, 2008.