Amador Central Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad transport |
| Predecessor | Ione & Eastern Railroad |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Fate | Purchased for preservation by Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society and Amador County Historical Society |
| Headquarters | Ione, California , United States |
Area served | Amador County, California |
| Products | Rail freight transport (lumber, mining supplies) |
The Amador Central Railroad was a standard gauge line spanning 11.8 miles, linking the Southern Pacific Company (SP) connection at Ione with Martell, located near Jackson, California. This railroad primarily served the gold mining towns in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and facilitated the transportation of lumber harvested from the El Dorado National Forest. Its name was derived from Amador County, the region in which it operated.
History
The Amador Central began as the Ione & Eastern Railroad. In 1902, the Ione & Eastern aimed to construct a 14-mile route from Ione to Sutter Creek, with plans for an additional 13 miles extending to Volcano, California. However, track installation only reached Sunnybrook before the company declared bankruptcy in 1903. The railroad was subsequently sold in 1904 and rebranded as the Amador Central Railroad, which extended its line to Martell later that year.
Timeline
- March 5, 1902: Incorporation of Ione & Eastern Railroad
- April 10, 1902: Commencement of grading work
- June 20, 1902: Start of rail installation
- November 15, 1902: Initial train service to Sunnybrook (Milepost 5.0)
- May 12, 1903: Bankruptcy filing by Ione & Eastern
- June 15, 1904: Formation of Amador Central; continuation of track construction toward Martell
- November 22, 1904: Arrival of first train in Martell
- July 12, 1942: Final passenger train departs Martell
- January 1, 1943: Lease of AMC by Winton Lumber Company
- June 22, 1964: Acquisition of AMC by American Forest Products
- June 1988: Purchase of AMC by Georgia-Pacific
- March 28, 1997: Georgia-Pacific acquired by Sierra Pacific Industries; last freight train operation
- August 10, 1997: Sale of AMC by Georgia-Pacific to Sierra Railroad for $1.5 million
- September 13, 1998: Transfer of AMC ownership from Sierra Railroad to Sierra Pacific Industries
- 1998: Lease of AMC to Ampine (Sierra Pine division) by Sierra Pacific Industries; reopening as Amador Foothills Railroad
- June 7, 2004: Final train run on Amador Foothills Railroad
- November 2011: Purchase of AMC by Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society and Amador County Historical Society for preservation purposes
The AMC connected with Southern Pacific’s Ione Branch at Ione and extended its service line to Martell.
Legacy
By October 2009, roughly 1.5 miles of track located north and east of the Martell grade crossing at California Highway 88 had been removed along with most ties and ballast. The primary depot building in Martell stands abandoned and is slated for demolition, whereas the nearby locomotive maintenance facility has been repurposed for storage and automotive repair activities.
The tracks, crossings, and warning devices remain intact along the stretch from Ione to the Highway 88 crossing near Martell, covering approximately 9.5 miles. This portion is leased and maintained by rail enthusiasts who operate railcar speeders for recreational use along this picturesque route.
Adjacent to the Highway 88 crossing northeast lies a business park featuring underground utilities and paved roads named after railroad themes such as "Locomotive Lane" and "Boxcar Blvd," though it remains mostly undeveloped.
On October 27, 2010, ownership of the Amador Central/Amador Foothills Railroad was transferred from Sierra Pacific Industries to the Amador County Historical Society (ACHS) and Recreational Railroad Coalition Inc. (RRCI) for a nominal sum of one dollar. A Railroad Management Committee was established with Grant Vogel appointed as Roadmaster and Tom Correa serving as deputy Roadmaster.
In 2015, the FRA approved its operation as a Noninsular Tourist Railway under the name "Amador Central Railway." The partnership between ACHS and RRCI manages all communications regarding this operation.
In 2008, locomotive #10—the final AMC/AFRR engine—was moved to Ione, California. It remains privately owned under a storage agreement with the city.