Northwestern
Pacific Railroad
Historical Society
Preserving the heritage of Redwood Empire Railroading
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The logos represented are (clockwise, from top): North Pacific Coast Railroad, Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad, Arcata and Mad River Railroad,
California Western Railroad-Skunk Train, new NWP logo- adopted in 1996 by new publically owned NWP railroad, and
are circled around original NWP logo.
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad,the 'Redwood Empire Route', played a major role in the growth of Northern California.
The line was created in 1907 through the consolidation of six separate picturesque railroad companies held by the
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads. At its height, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was an amalgamation of
some sixty different companies. Some of the forerunners built extensive and substantial operating lines. Others,
were short lines such as he many logging lines in the Humboldt Bay region. Nearly a third consisted of companies
which incorporated but never laid a foot of track. All of them contributed, in some fashion, to the rich heritage
of the NWP.
Diversity was a key word in the history of Redwood Empire railroading. Gauges varied from the Sonoma Prismoidal,
an early wooden monorail, to the broad-gauged logging lines, many built to accommodate their four-legged motive
power. In between lay the two foot Sonoma Magnesite RR, the first-class narrow gauge North Pacific Coast and, of
course, the more common standard gauge lines. Power was supplied by horse, mules, oxen, steam, electricity, and
internal combustion engines, both gas and diesel.
The NWP, with its affectionate 'Nowhere in Particular' nickname, operated standard gauge, narrow gauge, ferry steamboats
and car floats, electric 3rd rail and overhead trolley interurbans, a streamlined 'name' train along with unusual
connectors such as funiculars and scenic tourist railways. This transportation network in the pre-World War II
years many claimed was too far ahead of its time. Rarely is so much fascinating diversity found in the origins
of one company.
Since 1929, when Southern Pacific bought the Santa Fe's equal interest in the line, the NWP has been a wholly-owned
subsidiary of SP. In 1984, the trackage for Outlet, near Willits, north to Korblex was sold to a new company, the
Eureka Southern RR, later named the North Coast RR. In 1996, the North Coast RR and the former "south end"
of the Southern Pacific RR became the "new" Northwestern Pacific Railroad under public ownership. The
new NWP's goals include handling more freight by rail along the Highway 101 corridor, establishing passenger excursion
trains, and eventually providing regular passenger commute service.
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This page was created on August 29, 2000
and last updated on December 3, 2000
