SANTA PAULA, CA - Sierra Northern Railway, Ventura Division has moved its operational headquarters to the former Santa Paula Hay and Grain facility from nearby Fillmore as of July 1st.

The move allows for a much-needed expansion of facilities in anticipation of future operations, including passenger excursions, movie and television shoots, freight and transload customers, and RailBike rentals. The railway will continue to have a presence in Fillmore.

“We are pleased to partner with Santa Paula Hay and Grain and the city of Santa Paula to develop our new base of operations,” said Kennan Beard, President of Sierra Northern. “We are looking forward to integrating ourselves into the community.”

“We are eager to get started in Santa Paula. The city has been welcoming and gracious, and we are looking forward to having a permanent home for our operations. The 4,000 square-foot shop and 1.5 acres of yard are an excellent fit for the needs of the railroad,” said Matt Blackburn, Sierra Northern, Ventura Division Manager.

Sierra Northern Railway leases the 30 miles of railroad right-of-way from Ventura County Transportation Commission on a 35-year lease. The line extends from Ventura on the west to Piru on the east and has been seen worldwide in movies, television shows, and commercials featuring railroad locations.

The Sierra Northern Railway was formed in August 2003 through the merger of two Northern California short line railroads: the Sierra Railroad Company and the Yolo Short Line Railroad. It currently operates about 100 miles of track in Northern California, and 30 miles of track in the Santa Clara River Valley in Southern California.

For additional information, contact Kennan Beard at KBeard@Sierrarailroad.com