The Southern Pacific (reporting mark SP) (or Espee from the railroad initials) was an American Class I railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States.

The Southern Pacific was the final unit in UP's Heritage Series of locomotives, and was inspired by the railroad's famous "Daylight" trains, often referred to as "The Most Beautiful Trains in the World."

One of the original ancestor-railroads of SP, the Galveston and Red River Railway (GRR), was chartered on March 11, 1848, by Ebenezer Allen, [1][2][3][4] although the company did not become active until 1852, after a series of meetings at Chappell Hill, Texas, and Houston, Texas.

Our mission is to provide a digital presentation of the history of the Southern Pacific System from the creation of its first predecessor company in 1853 until its merger with Union Pacific in 1996, through a comprehensive, searchable website.

The history of the Southern Pacific stretches from 1865 to 1998 and ultimately provided rail transportation services in 13 states throughout the American West and Southwest. The Southern Pacific was represented by three railroads throughout its life.

Oct 16, 2024 · Its name stands alongside notables like the Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio, and Illinois Central. The "Espee" carries a heritage tied to one of the most important events in American history, completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

What quickly became America’s first land holding company, the Southern Pacific Railroad (Southern Pacific) was incorporated in 1865 and would later lease the Central Pacific Railroad (Central Pacific).

Jan 24, 2025 · Southern Pacific Railroad, one of the great American railroad systems, established in 1861 by the “big four” of western railroad building— Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker.

Feb 4, 2022 · Capsule history of the Southern Pacific railroad covering the Overland Route, Sunset Route, Coast Line, Golden State Route, Lucin Cutoff, and Rio Grande and Union Pacific mergers

Aug 12, 2024 · The Southern Pacific Railroad (combined with other railroads) was part of the second, third, and fourth railroads to offer "transcontinental" service in the United States and Canada. In 1883 Southern Pacific's own tracks connected New Orleans, Louisiana, to California.