The train that built Folsom

This weekend marks the 170th anniversary of the Sacramento Valley Railroad (SVRR), California's first passenger train. In 1856, the railroad carried travelers from Sacramento to Folsom, where they continued on foot or by stagecoach to the gold mines of the Sierra Nevada. Since many Folsom residents may not know the story behind this railroad, I wanted to share a bit of its history. The SVRR was chartered in 1852 to create a faster, more reliable route between Sacramento and the gold fields. The railroad hired Theodore Judah as chief engineer. Born in 1826 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Judah studied civil engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and worked on railroads in the Northeast before moving west. His expertise made him the perfect choice to build California's first passenger line. At the time of Judah's work for the SVRR, Black Miner's Bar was little more than a scattered mining camp. Judah knew the railroad needed a proper terminus, so he surveyed and laid out the townsite that would become Folsom. This transformed the area into a permanent city and kept it from fading into obscurity like many Gold Rush towns. He later helped plan the western route for the Transcontinental Railroad, working alongside his wife, Anna, whose artwork and plant pressings helped win Congressional support. Construction of the SVRR began in spring 1855. By December, trains reached Alder Creek, and by Feb. 3, 1856, the line was complete to Folsom. On Feb. 22, 1856, what would have been George Washington's 124th birthday, the SVRR officially opened with a ceremonial ride from Sacramento to Folsom. Though trains had already been running for a few weeks, this day was reserved for speeches, crowds and a grand celebration. People poured onto Sutter Street to welcome the train, partying late into the next morning. Nearly four years in the making, the railroad quickly became a key reason Folsom still exists today. Unfortunately, the railroad never reached Marysville. The SVRR ran only from the Sacramento River levee at Front and L streets to the Folsom railyard. Later, a spur line was added from the Folsom Wye, near Bidwell Street and Folsom Boulevard, extending to Placerville. Eventually, the line came under the control of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Passenger service ended in the 1930s, and freight service lasted until the 1970s. Today, Sacramento Regional Transit's Gold Line light rail follows much of the old SVRR route, letting travelers retrace this historic journey. To celebrate both the railroad and Theodore Judah's 200th birthday, the City of Folsom is hosting an event on Wednesday, March 4. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historic Folsom Station Plaza and Railroad Turntable, the community is invited to hear talks from local historians and special guests, watch the turntable in action, and explore exhibits and hands-on activities. There will even be a birthday cake for Judah. We hope to see you as we honor the railroad and the engineer who helped make Folsom's growth possible. Zachary Vaccarezza is the Museum Engagement Manager for Folsom History and a public history graduate student at California State University, Sacramento.