Much of the line south to Bakersfield was constructed in the 1890s as part of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad. Passenger service between Richmond and Oakland began in June 1904.[3] Passenger service on that segment ended in the 1950s.[4]
The Valley Division and Los Angeles Division were merged into the "California Division" in 1988.[5]
However by 1996, BNSF had divided the line into four subdivisions:[6]
Sunset Railway (Gosford to Taft); and most of a fifth,
Mojave (Hutt to Bakersfield, with trackage rights on Southern Pacific's Tahachapi line).
Spurs
Fresno Interurban District: In the Fresno area, a spur known as the Fresno Interurban District ran from Fresno to the east. The stations on that spur were Hammond, Cincotta, Bartonette, Cameo, Burness, Fairview, Big Bunch, Zediker, Riverbend, Elk, and Belmont Ave.[7] The Tulare Valley Railroad acquired the tracks from Hammond to Cameo around 1992.
Laton and Western Railroad: South of Frenso, a line from Laton west to Lanare was constructed from 1910 to 1912. An abandonment application for the line, approximately 17.56 miles (28.26 km), was filed in 1980. Other stations on the spur, running west from Laton, were Shirley, Gepford, and Shilling.[8]
