2/17/1997
Landmark information
- Location:
SW corner of intersection of Hwy 12 and Hwy 26, Valley Springs - Plaque:
Other Plaque - Site:
Existing - Date First Visited:
2/17/1997 - Date Most Recently Visited:
2/17/1997 - GPS Coordinates:
N 38 11.474, W 120 49.743
About this landmark
Plaque text:
Valley Spring
The original three foot narrow gauge line was built by the San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada Railroad, extending from Brack's Landing on the Mokelumne River, east to Valley Spring. The depot and turntable were built around the time of completion of the last section, which was finished in April 1885, at a total cost of $409,570.00. The line was changed to standard gauge by Southern Pacific around 1904. It was then extended 13 miles further east to Kentucky House to service the Calaveras Cement Company in 1925. Passenger service ended around 1932 but the line continued to serve as a freight line, until the closure of the cement plant. The last rail shipment of cement was in 1983.