California Pacific Railroad

California Pacific Railroad
Cal. P. R. R. or Cal-P
Overview
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
LocaleVallejo - Sacramento - Napa - Calistoga - Davis - Marysville
Dates of operation18651876
SuccessorCentral Pacific Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The California Pacific Railroad Company (abbreviated Cal. P. R. R. or Cal-P) was incorporated in 1865 at San Francisco, California as the California Pacific Rail Road Company. It was renamed the California Pacific Railroad Extension Company in the spring of 1869, then renamed the California Pacific Railroad later that same year. Its main line from Vallejo to Washington, now West Sacramento, was completed November 1868, six months prior to the May 1869 golden spike ceremony of the Central Pacific/Union Pacific Transcontinental Railway.

Beginning January 1869, the company operated a passenger ferryboat (New World) from San Francisco to Vallejo and thence a railroad to West Sacramento. It also had a branch from Adelante (later Napa Junction, now American Canyon) to Calistoga and another from Davis to Marysville. By the end of January 1870, the company was able to span the Sacramento river and operate to and from the city of Sacramento.

The Cal-P operated independently from 1865 to 1876. It was then operated by the Central Pacific and was finally sold to the Southern Pacific.

Amtrak's Capitol Corridor follows the original Cal-P Line from Sacramento to Suisun/Fairfield on its way to, via Martinez, Oakland and San Jose.