Railroads of the American West
Western Rail Archive documents the railroads that shaped the American West, from the transcontinental pioneers and Southern California’s electric railways to today’s freight, intercity, and regional passenger operators. Each railroad page is an evergreen reference combining history, routes, equipment, preservation, photography notes, and links to related railroads and locations.
Current Railroads
- Amtrak – Intercity passenger rail connecting Southern California and the American West with communities across the United States.
- BNSF Railway – A major North American freight railroad and successor to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, operating extensively throughout the American West.
- COASTER / SPRINTER – North County San Diego’s coastal commuter and inland regional rail network.
- Metrolink / Arrow – Southern California’s regional passenger rail network, with Arrow service between San Bernardino and Redlands.
- Union Pacific Railroad – A major North American freight railroad and successor to Southern Pacific and Western Pacific, operating extensively throughout the American West.
Historic Railroads
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway – The railroad that connected Southern California with the Southwest and built a celebrated passenger system.
- Central Pacific Railroad – Built east from Sacramento across the Sierra Nevada to complete the western half of the First Transcontinental Railroad.
- Los Angeles Railway (The Yellow Cars) – The dense, frequent streetcar network of central Los Angeles and its neighborhoods.
- Pacific Electric Railway (The Red Cars) – Southern California’s regional electric railway connecting cities, suburbs, beaches, industries, and farms.
- Southern Pacific Railroad – The railroad that shaped California and became a major transportation system in the American West.
- Western Pacific Railroad – The Feather River Route, the California Zephyr, and the Pacific outlet of George Gould’s transcontinental system.
Coming Soon
Future additions include route and equipment pages, such as the Surf Line, Tehachapi and Cajon passes, and the COASTER F40 fleet, along with photo galleries, videos, and historical articles linked from each railroad page.