About Modoc Northern Railroad Company

Modoc Northern Railroad operates over 160 miles of track in northeastern California and southern Oregon.  We are based in Tulelake, California and connect with Union Pacific Railroad in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Our name reflects the heritage of these historic rails, which were first laid in June 1927 by a Southern Pacific Railroad subsidiary, "Modoc Northern Railroad."  The original Modoc Northern name was never officially used.  It was a railroad that existed only on paper, and never ran a train.  The line was owned and operated from the beginning by Southern Pacific, forming a portion of their famous "Modoc line" shortcut from Oregon to Points East.

Following Union Pacific's purchase of Southern Pacific, 95 miles of the Modoc line in California between Alturas and Wendel were abandoned and removed. Since November 1, 2005, we have been providing service on the remaining portion of the original line, serving agriculture, timber, mining and other customers —and bringing the historic Modoc Northern Railroad name to life. 

In November 2006, we acquired the Lake County Railroad.  Another line steeped in history, this railroad began as the northernmost portion of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway, which reached Lakeview from Reno, Nevada in January 1912.  The N-C-O was absorbed into the Southern Pacific's system in October 1926 and the Alturas, California to Lakeview, Oregon branch line was later purchased by Lake County in January 1986.

Today, we are working to improve and revitalize these important rail corridors, providing communities along the Modoc Northern Railroad with a vital, responsive transportation link and the ability to attract new business and industry. 

Our success directly relates to the viability of the communities we serve. That’s our key to the future.

Click here to view our photo album of work being done along the Modoc Northern!

Working on the Railroad: 2007-2008