Yreka Western Railroad (reporting mark YW) is a Class III shortline railroad operating in Siskiyou County, California. It runs freight trains on an 8.86-mile (14.26 km) line between the city of Yreka and the interchange with the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad (CORP) in Montague, California. As of 2025, the railroad is owned and operated by Railmark Holdings, Inc.
History
The railroad originated as the Yreka Railroad Company, incorporated in May 1888 with a capital stock of $100,000, and opened for operations on January 9, 1889. It was built by the citizens of Yreka after the Southern Pacific Company (through its lessor, the Central Pacific Railroad) decided to bypass Yreka in favor of a shorter, more level route through the Shasta Valley and the city of Montague. The line connected Yreka to the Central Pacific Railroad (ex-California and Oregon Railroad) and initially hauled both passengers and local freight.
On August 24, 1933, the railroad was re-incorporated as the Yreka Western Railroad Company. In 1935, the railroad entered receivership during the Great Depression but was revived under the management of O.G. Steele.
In 1953, the railroad was acquired by Willis Kyle, who later formed the Kyle Railways company. Under Kyle's ownership, the railroad expanded and developed its historic "Blue Goose" logo and branding. In 1986, the YW began operating a steam-powered passenger excursion train known as the Blue Goose, which ran between Yreka and Montague offering scenic views of Mount Shasta, the Shasta Valley, and the Siskiyou Mountains.
In 1995, the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad acquired the Southern Pacific (later Union Pacific) connection at Montague. In 1999, Kyle Railways sold the YW to the Rocky Mountain Railway and Mining Museum of Denver, Colorado.
In 2004, the closure of Tunnel #3 in the Siskiyou Pass near the Oregon state line severely impacted the railroad's freight business, cutting revenues in half. The excursion business was increased to compensate, but a subsequent economic downturn led to the cessation of all tourist excursion operations in mid-2016. The railroad's famous steam locomotive No. 19 was sold at auction in October 2016 to the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Ohio.
On January 1, 2017, the YW was sold to Railmark Holdings, Inc., its 15th owner. In August 2017, Railmark renamed the corporate entity back to the original Yreka Railroad Company while maintaining the "Doing Business As" (DBA) name Yreka Western Railroad Company. Railmark also secured federal trademark protection for the "Blue Goose" logo and branding.
Operations
The Yreka Western Railroad currently operates as a freight common carrier. Freight traffic consists primarily of wood chips, forest products, propane, and a variety of transload commodities. The railroad maintains a 4.3-acre rail transload facility located off Interstate 5 at exit 775, which was originally established in 1910 as the area's first rail transload facility. The YW also offers railcar storage, railcar mechanical services, and industrial rail switching.
The railroad does not currently operate passenger excursion services.
Notable Locomotive: No. 19
The most famous locomotive to operate on the line was No. 19, a 2-8-2 Mikado (90-ton) steam locomotive built in April 1915 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Caddo & Choctaw River Lumber Company in Arkansas. Nicknamed "Pancho" due to its time spent in Mexico in the 1920s, the locomotive was purchased by the McCloud River Railroad in 1924 and later sold to the Yreka Western Railroad in 1953. No. 19 appeared in several films, most notably Emperor of the North (1973) and Stand By Me (1986). It was sold at auction in October 2016 and is currently being restored at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
Corporate Information
- Reporting mark: YW (AAR #873)
- Headquarters: Yreka, California
- Length: 8.86 miles (14.26 km)
- Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
- Interchange points: Montague, California (via CORP/UP)
- Current owner: Railmark Holdings, Inc. (since 2017)
- Website: yrekawestern.com
