The Sierra Northern Railway is a common carrier railroad company operating in California. The company owns several rights of way originating from those of the former Sacramento Northern Railroad, Northern Electric Railway, Sierra Railway Company Of California, Western Pacific Railroad, and Yolo Shortline Railroad. It handles all freight operations and track maintenance for its parent company, the Sierra Railroad Company. The tracks that are maintained by Sierra Northern are also used by the Sierra Railroad Company's tourist trains.

History

In August 2003, the Sierra Railroad and the Yolo Shortline Railroad merged to form the Sierra Northern Railway. According to the AAR, the line operates 99 mi of track in California. It serves a number of industrial areas in the state and interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad, the BNSF Railway and the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. In 2022, the company signed a 30-year lease to operate over the Santa Paula Branch Line, formerly operated by the Fillmore and Western Railway.

Routes

The company operates trains over two primary routes:

Junctions with other railroads

The Oakdale and West Sacramento (Lovdale)–Woodland lines have junctions with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific. The Fort Bragg–Willits line, which has been closed since the collapse of a tunnel in 2012, has a junction with the defunct Northwestern Pacific Railroad in Willits.