The Almanor Railroad (AAR reporting marks AL) is a Class III shortline
operating in Northern California, USA. It is owned by Collins Pine and
annually hauls about 300 cars of timber and lumber products generated at
the mill. The railroad is likely named after the Almanor Forest that is
being logged by Collins Pine.
The 13 mile railroad runs west from a connection with the BNSF Railway (former
Western Pacific) at Clear Creek Junction to Chester, California.
The Almanor Railroad was incorporated on September 15, 1941 and purchased
the line from the Grande Ronde Lumber Company.
The railroad line was built before 1931 by the Red River Lumber Company
which had a private electric logging railroad with a trestle over the
Feather River and ran from Westwood (about 3 miles east of Clear Creek
Junction) to Chester. The portion of the Red River Lumber line between
Westwood and Chester is now the BNSF mainline from Keddie to Bieber. The
BNSF also has trackage rights over the Almanor Railroad.
The Almanor Railroad has one 70-ton GE locomotive built in 1955.
The railroad line was built before 1931 by the Red River Lumber Company
which had a private electric logging railroad with a trestle over the
Feather River and ran from Westwood (about 3 miles east of Clear Creek
Junction) to Chester. The portion of the Red River Lumber line between
Westwood and Chester is now the BNSF mainline from Keddie to Bieber. The
BNSF also has trackage rights over the Almanor Railroad.