Mojave Desert Historic Railroad Timeline

From the first cuts through the mountain passes to the last miles of narrow-gauge track laid in the desert heat, the railroads transformed the Mojave Desert. They brought people, supplies, and change—fast. One early observer captured the whirlwind pace:

"We witnessed here the fabulous speed with which the Railroad was built... practiced hands dropped the fresh rails one after another on the ties exactly in line... the only limit... was the power of the road behind to bring forward the materials."

– The Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850–1920

Here's how it all unfolded:

1876–1915: The Foundation of Desert Railroads

1874–76: The Southern Pacific connects San Francisco to Los Angeles, including the engineering marvel of the Tehachapi Loop.

1881: Southern Pacific lays track from Mojave to Calico Station (near present-day Daggett).

1882–83: Track extended east to Needles.

1883: Atlantic & Pacific builds through to Kingman.

1883: Carson & Colorado reaches Keeler.

1884: Atlantic & Pacific crosses the Colorado River and begins acquiring SP's line from Waterman Junction (Barstow) to Needles.

1885: California Southern pushes a route through Cajon Pass from Barstow to San Bernardino.

Expansion and Local Lines

1893: Nevada Southern Railroad links Goffs to Manvel/Barnwell.

1895: California Eastern begins service.

1898: Randsburg Railway begins running.

1902: Ludlow & Southern and Barnwell & Searchlight open lines into the desert.

1904: Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad begins moving ore and passengers through the heart of the desert.

1905: The San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad completes a central desert line.

1905–06: Tonopah & Goldfield and Las Vegas & Tonopah expand northward.

1907: Bullfrog Goldfield connects remote mining camps.

1908–10: Arizona & California line links Cadiz, Rice, and Parker.

1912: Southern Pacific's Jawbone Branch serves the Owens Valley.

1913: The Trona Railway hauls minerals from the Searles Valley.

1915–16: California Southern (II) runs between Rice and Ripley.

1904 Tonopah & Tidewater

1905 San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake

1905 Tonopah & Goldfield

1905 Tonopah & Tidewater

1906 Las Vegas & Tonopah

1907 Bullfrog Goldfield

1908(1910?) Arizona & California - Cadiz - Rice - Parker

1912 SP Jawbone

1913 Trona

1915-1916 California Southern (II) Rice - Ripley