Randsburg Railway
.jpg)
The Randsburg Railway was a 28.5-mile (45.9 km) branch-line railroad in California's Mojave Desert. It originated at Kramer Junction, California, and terminated at Johannesburg, California, with a stop at Atolia on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF).
Randsburg Railway December 1897.
A couple of miners in an attempt to extort money from the Randsburg Railway Company staked out a claim and proceeded to dig a shaft, causing an armed standoff with the track laying crew. The contractor laying the track withdrew and when the miners went home for the night the crew was brought back in and the shaft filled and the track laid over it effectively ending the dispute. - C.W. Tucker photosUpon its completion on January 5, 1898, the line began operation on January 17, 1898. AT&SF acquired the railway in 1903. Throughout its 35-year history, the Randsburg Railway served passengers and local mining operations.
As a result of the Great Depression and the decline in the mining industry, the Randsburg Railway ceased operations on December 30, 1933. A year later, the rails were removed. Portions of the grade are still visible along U.S. Route 395
Randsburg
Kramer
Johannesburg
Atolia
Railroad Chronology
