Desperate to get their own station, Bakersfield residents, sugar magnate Clause Spreckels, and small investors from all over the state ended up raising around $3,500,000 by January 17, 1895, to fund a second railroad to Bakersfield. By January 29, 1895, the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad was born. Dubbed the "People's Railroad," the project was completed and warmly welcomed by the town with a parade attended by thousands on May 27, 1898, amidst the Spanish-American War and over 20 years after the completion of Southern Pacific's line. Competition from the new railroad caused Southern Pacific to lower its fares from $9.10 ($347.22 in 2023) to $6.90 ($263.27 in 2023) to match the new railroad's fare.
Desperate to get their own station Bakersfield residents sugar magnate Clause Spreckels and small investors from all over the state ended up raising around $3500000 by January 17 1895 to fund a second railroad to Bakersfield By January 29 1895 the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad was born Dubbed the "People's Railroad" the project was completed and warmly welcomed by the town with a parade attended by thousands on May 27 1898 amidst the Spanish-American War and over 20 years after the completion of Southern Pacific's line Competition from the new railroad caused Southern Pacific to lower its fares from $910 ($34722 in 2023) to $690 ($26327 in 2023) to match the new railroad's fare