FRESNO'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Fresno in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.


THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Fresno, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Santa Fe Station
2650 Tulare St.
Opened 1899

Southern Pacific Station
1713 Tulare St.
Opened 1889, replacing earlier station at same location built in 1872


SANTA FE

(Santa Fe Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 23                        San Francisco   1:15    7  10:50 pm
 24                        Barstow         5:00    6   4:10 am
 30  (Motor Train)         Corcoran        5:45
 60  Golden Gate           Bakersfield    12:12       12:10 pm
 61  Golden Gate           San Francisco  12:59       12:45 pm
  1  San Francisco Chief   San Francisco   2:15        8:45 am     5:45 am
 26  (Motor Train)         Calwa           3:40
  2  San Francisco Chief   Barstow         4:05        3:30 pm     8:05 pm
 63  Golden Gate           San Francisco   6:04        5:45 pm
 62  Golden Gate           Bakersfield    10:05       10:05 pm


Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 23                        Barstow        12:55    7  10:30 pm
 24                        San Francisco   4:44    6   3:52 am
 15  (Motor Train)         Calwa           5:25
 60  Golden Gate           San Francisco  12:10       12:05 pm
 61  Golden Gate           Bakersfield    12:57       12:40 pm
  1  San Francisco Chief   Barstow         2:05        8:40 am     5:45 am
 25  (Motor Train)         Corcoran        3:28
  2  San Francisco Chief   San Francisco   3:55        3:25 pm     8:05 pm
 63  Golden Gate           Bakersfield     6:02        5:41 pm
 62  Golden Gate           San Francisco  10:03       10:00 pm


Passenger service initially discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last train was the San Francisco Chief.


SOUTHERN PACIFIC

(Southern Pacific Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 26  Owl                   Los Angeles    12:15   58   2:35 am
 60  West Coast            Los Angeles     1:05       11:35 pm
 25  Owl                   San Francisco   2:55   57   2:15 am
 59  West Coast            Portland        4:00        3:10 am
 52  San Joaquin Daylight  Los Angeles     1:00       11:41 am    12:55 pm
 51  San Joaquin Daylight  San Francisco   3:50        1:45 pm     1:59 pm
 53  Sequoia               San Francisco   4:00
 56  Tehachapi             Los Angeles     5:30


Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 60  West Coast            Portland       12:48       11:15 pm
 25  Owl                   Los Angeles     2:40   57   1:55 am
 59  West Coast            Los Angeles     3:45        2:52 am
 58  Sequoia               San Francisco   7:00
 55  Tehachapi             Los Angeles     7:30
 52  San Joaquin Daylight  San Francisco  12:50       11:32 am    12:50 pm
 51  San Joaquin Daylight  Los Angeles     3:35        1:35 pm     1:52 pm
 26  Owl                   San Francisco  11:59   58   2:15 am


Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last train was the San Joaquin Daylight.

In addition, Southern Pacific passenger trains operated via the Clovis Branch until 1930, via the Exeter Branch until late 1930's, and via the Los Banos Subdivision until early 1940's.


STATIONS TODAY

The Santa Fe station continues to be used by Amtrak.

The Southern Pacific station still stands. The station was somewhat obscured by a Greyhound bus station. But the original Greyhound company serving Fresno was Pacific Greyhound Lines, which was actually controlled by Southern Pacific. Greyhound has since relocated to the Santa Fe station, shared with Amtrak.

Santa Fe Railroad Depot
Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Links to Web sites containing further historical information on the stations.


MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

Fresno was located on the Southern Pacific San Joaquin Division main line, and on the Santa Fe Valley Division main line. Both lines extended between Oakland and Bakersfield. And AT&SF's Visalia District diverged from the main line at Calwa, 3 miles south. Each railroad used its own station.