Railways are links to history of Orange County

...The Southern Pacific Railroad linked Anaheim to Los Angeles in 1874, becoming Orange County’s first rail connection. Nearby farmers celebrated the potential opening of new markets for their oranges and walnuts, and residents looked forward to a convenient ride into Los Angeles. Collis P. Huntington, one of the “Big Four” leaders of economic and political influence in California history and founder of the Southern Pacific Railroad, next attempted to extend his line through the Irvine Ranch and down along the coast to San Diego. However, a legendary account tells that James Irvine and Collis Huntington had met as early as 1849 on a steamship bound for the California Gold Rush. After a shipboard disputed poker game, they maintained a lifelong dislike of each other. Whatever formed the basis for their strained relationship, the aversion prompted Irvine to block any Southern Pacific tracks on his property, a position that was upheld in court – a rarity for the powerful Southern Pacific Railroad. Quickly the California Central Railway (soon taken over by the Santa Fe Railroad) moved to make an arrangement with Irvine for a right of way through his property and on to San Diego. That line was completed in 1889, and soon persuaded ranchers such as Moulton and Daguerre to expand their crops with the use of warehouses near the El Toro railroad station for storage before shipment northward and eastward...more