Southern Pacific Railroad Shasta Route, Bridge No. 310.58, Milepost 310.58, Sims, Shasta County, CA

Significance: The Southern Pacific Railroad Shasta Route, built as the California and Oregon Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad between Roseville, California and Portland, Oregon was the first thrust north of the Central Pacific Railroad to tap the Oregon market. Begun in 1863 as the California and Oregon Railroad, the line was finally completed in 1887. Completion of the Natron Cutoff in 1927 saw the north end of the Shasta Route pulled back to Black Butte, California. A final change occurred 1938-1942 when construction of Shasta Dam required replacement of twenty-six miles of the original alignment with thirty-two miles of new railroad. For the purpose of the current project, the Shasta Route was found likely to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance under Criterion A for its significance in engineering, transportation history, and the economic development of California and Oregon, and in the development of the West, and under criterion B for its association with E.H. Harriman. The Shasta Route's period of significance is 1863 to 1945, from the beginning of construction in 1863, through the years of its role in the economic development of California and Oregon, to the conclusion of the railroad's achievements in World War II. As contributors to the overall historic property, the route's Common Standard bridges over the Sacramento River were also found to meet criterion C, representing a type, period, and method of construction. Built in 1901, Bridge Number 310.58 is a contributive element of this property.
Survey number: HAER CA-223
Building/structure dates: 1901 Initial Construction