Exeter Branch
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| Exeter Branch | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | In-Service: Fresno-Exeter
Intact, abandoned: Exeter-Strathmore Abandoned: Strathmore-Hollis Intact, abandoned: Hollis-Famoso |
| Owner | 1888-1991: Southern Pacific Railroad 1991+: San Joaquin Valley Railroad |
| Locale | San Joaquin Valley, California |
| Termini | |
| Connecting lines | Visalia Branch |
| Former connections | Visalia Electric Railroad
|
| History | |
| Commenced | 1888 |
| Opened | Dec 24, 1890 |
| Closed | Strathmore-Richgrove: 2009-2010 Richgrove-Hollis: 1998 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 104.3 mi (167.9 km) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Signalling | Automatic block signaling (Famoso to Exeter) |
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The Exeter Branch is a rail line in California's San Joaquin Valley that, at its fullest extent, ran from Famoso, California to Fresno, California. The line was constructed from 1888 to 1890, initially by the Stockton and Tulare Railroad Company; which was soon consolidated into the Southern Pacific.
1888-1991: SP ownership
The rails from Fresno to Porterville were completed on July 1, 1888. A small yard, turntable, and engine servicing facility were constructed in Porterville. The line from Porterville to Famosa (later Famoso) was completed by December 24, 1890, with end-to-end train service beginning soon after. Along the line, stations were constructed to handle the shipment of freight and passengers, and surrounding towns (except for Porterville) were laid out. The line, including stations and sidings, was laid out as follows (as of September 15, 1974):
| Mile Post | Name | Notes | Siding Length (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 205.5 | Fresno | Yard Limits. Connection with Fresno Subdivision. | |
| 207.0 | ATSF Crossing | Yard Limits. Crossing with ATSF Valley Division | |
| 213.0 | Locans | Wye | |
| 215.9 | Clotho | ||
| 219.8 | Sanger | Yard limits | 4360 |
| 227.9 | LacJac | ||
| 228.0 | ATSF Crossing | Crossing with ATSF Visalia District | |
| 229.9 | Reedley | Yard limits | 4110 |
| 235.0 | Dinuba | Yard limits | 2490 |
| 243.6 | ATSF Crossing | Crossing with ATSF Visalia District | |
| 257.4 | Exeter | Yard limits. Wye and connection with Visalia Branch and Visalia Electric Railroad | 3570 |
| 264.3 | Lindsay | Yard Limits | 5090 |
| 268.6 | Strathmore | Yard Limits | 1760 |
| 274.8 | Porterville | 1440 | |
| 275.95 | Porterville Jct Olive St Station | Junction with the Porterville Northeastern (SP Springville Branch) and ATSF Porterville-Orosi District | |
| 282.6 | Terra Bella | ||
| 287.1 | Ducor | Yard Limits | 3380 |
| 294.9 | Richgrove | Yard Limits. Wye to Richgrove Branch | 3330 |
| 299.0 | Jasmin | Yard Limits | |
| 309.8 | Famoso | Yard Limits. Connection with Fresno Subdivision. |
1992-Present: SJVR ownership
On Dec 31, 1991, SP sold the line to the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.
In 1998, the SJVR filed to abandon 9 miles of track from MP 295.2 near Richgrove to MP 304.2 (Quality to Hollis)[1], which was subsequently approved, and the tracks were pulled up.
On February 19, 2008, SJVR filed with the STB a petition to abandon a 30.57-mile portion of the South Exeter Branch between milepost 268.60 at Strathmore, CA, and milepost 299.17 at Jovista, CA, in Tulare County, CA. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 93218, 93221, 93247, 93257, 93258, 93261, 93267, and 93270, and includes the stations of Strathmore (milepost 268.60), Porterville (milepost 274.80), Elmco (milepost 280.10), Ultra (milepost 282.00), Terra Bella (milepost 282.60), Ducor (milepost 287.10), Richgrove (milepost 294.90), and Jovista (milepost 299.17). [2] This approval was subsequently granted, and all of the track from Richgrove (including the Richgrove Branch) to Strathmore was abandoned and pulled up.
On February 28, 2008, SJVR filed with the STB a petition to abandon a 9.20-mile portion of its South Exeter Branch extending between milepost 259.40, near Exeter, and milepost 268.60, near Strathmore, in Tulare County, CA. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 93221, 93247, and 93267, and includes the stations of Strathmore and Lindsay. [3] This approval was not granted, so the current end-of-track is at milepost 267.4, between Lindsay and Strathmore.[4]
On April 4, 2024, SJVR filed with the STB a petition to to discontinue service over an approximately 4.3-mile rail line between milepost 304.2 and milepost 308.5 in Kern County, Cal. (Famoso to Hollis). As of December 2024, a red board had been erected just north of Whisler Rd, leaving approximately 2.24 miles of track still in service between the Famoso switch and Whisler Rd. The remaining northern 2.40 miles of track is now out of service and its future is unclear.
References
- ^ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1998-03-05/pdf/98-5626.pdf
- ^ "San Joaquin Valley Railroad Company-Abandonment Exemption-in Tulare County, CA". Federal Register. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-03-19/pdf/E8-5548.pdf
- ^ Bernstein, David M. (2021). California Railroad Timetable 1. King Street Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-578-25542-2.