Randsburg Railway

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The Randsburg Railway was a 28.5-mile branch line railroad in California's Mojave Desert. It originated at the main line of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF) at Kramer, California and terminated at Johannesburg, California. The line was completed on January 5, 1898 and began operation on January 17, 1898. The railway was acquired by the AT&SF in 1903. During its 35-year history, the Randsburg Railway served a number of local mining operations; it also provided passenger service. The railway ceased operations on December 30, 1933, a victim of a decline in the mining industry and the Great Depression, and the rails were removed the following year. Portions of the grade are still visible along U.S. Route 395 between Kramer and Johannesburg.