FILLMORE, Calif. — Sierra Railroad of Davis, Calif., announced today it has purchased the majority of the remaining locomotives, rolling stock and other assets from the former Fillmore & Western Railroad operation in Ventura County. The Montalvo-to-Piru line, owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission, has been operated by Sierra Railroad’s Sierra Northern Ventura Division Railroad as of Dec. 26, 2021.
The equipment purchase includes a pair of EMD F7As, an EMD GP35, 2-8-0 No. 14, and about two dozen passenger, freight, and maintenance-of-way cars. Planned operations include dinner trains, Christmas trains, and special excursions, as well as providing equipment for movie, television and commercial productions. Passenger operations will be provided by sister company Mendocino Railway.
“We’re in the process of setting up an interchange agreement with Union Pacific to provide freight service on the line as needed,” said Kennan Beard III, president and CEO of Sierra Northern. Motive power will be former UP RailPower Gensets. The company’s base of operation will be in Fillmore.
