Abandonment and The Line Today
The last regular service by the Southern Pacific Railroad over the line was in 1974 and the tracks were removed in 1979. The grade is still visible between Magalia and Stirling City where it crosses Skyway Road. The Magalia Southern Pacific Deport (an SP Common Standard No. 22 design) remains at its original location and is now a restaurant (Lovin Oven Bagel Cafe at 6818 Depot Lane). The grade through Paradise is a trail.
According to Union Pacific Track Charts, the ICC authorized abandonment of 26 miles (42 km) of the branch from Milepost 189.0 (east of Chico) to Milepost 215.46 (end of the line at Stirling City) on December 3, 1977. The ICC again authorized abandonment of 3 more miles of track at Chico between Mileposts 185.69 and 189.0. Today, what remains of the branch is now known as the Stirling City Industrial Lead and runs from the junction with the mainline at Chico (MP 185.0) and ends at 185.69, running next to the Diamond Match Company.
The grade is still visible between Magalia and Stirling City in several places, including where it crosses the Skyway. The up-bound side of the Skyway from Chico, (right around Bruce Rd.), sits on the old right of way, until where the bike trail picks up at Neal Rd. in Paradise. The current bike trail to the top of Paradise is also on the old right of way, and can be seen crossing the respective streets in town where tracks sat. The bike trail runs past the depot as well, a mere reminder of what once was. The Magalia Southern Pacific Depot (an SP Common Standard No. 22 design) remains at its original location and was a restaurant, (Lovin' Oven Bagel Cafe at 6818 Depot Lane), until recently. The restaurant now appears closed, and the status of both the restaurant and the depot are unknown. The Paradise depot, (Butte County Railroad, later Southern Pacific), also remains at its original location, and is now operated, maintained, and staffed by the good folks of the Gold Nugget Museum, (http://goldnuggetmuseum.com/depot_museum.php).
Read more about this topic: Butte County Railroad
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