The SJ&SNRR steamed into Birdsall’s new town of Valley Spring (aka Valley Springs), the railroad’s terminus, on April 25, 1885. The depot was a canvas tent until a new structure was built later that year. In 1886, the railroad was sold to the Southern Pacific; two years later merged into its Northern Railway subsidiary; and in 1898 subsumed into the SP. In 1904, the line was widened to standard gauge. With the mid-1920s arrival of the Calaveras Cement Co. near San Andreas, the line was extended there. In 1927, a spur line was built northerly from Valley Springs to help build Pardee Dam, and in 1929 a spur south to help build Hogan Dam. In 1932, regular passenger service ended. The cement plant’s closure in 1983 marked the final regular freight run.
–Sal Manna, 2010
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Website Accessibility Policy
Calaveras Heritage Council is fully committed to providing accessible facilities, elements and
channels of communication to all members of the public. As part of this commitment, Calaveras Heritage Council
has a policy of providing an accessible website compatible with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and
commercial screen reading software. All features of the website are coded to allow individuals with vision and
other impairments to understand and use the website to the same degree as someone without disabilities. We welcome
feedback and can often resolve issues in a timely manner if they arise.
If you need any special assistance or accommodations:
Calaveras Heritage Council has designated a compliance officer for website disability-related accommodations.
The compliance officer has received training in website accessibility and updates the site in accordance with those best
practices. Contact our accessibility officer to report an issue.
Compliance Procedures and Reports
In addition to testing with users with a wide range of disabilities and coding our website to WCAG standards,
Calaveras Heritage Council regularly scans its website to ensure ongoing compliance, and makes timely
changes to any inaccessible changes, if any are found.
Linked Documents and Third Parties
Please note that this site may link out to third-party websites, such as state or federal agencies, that do
not have accessible content. This site may also include documents provided by third parties included in our
agenda packets, for example. While we cannot control the accessibility of content provided by third parties,
we are happy to assist any member of the public with reading and accessing content on our site.