The original three foot narrow gauge railroad line was built by the San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada Railroad from Brack’s Landing on the Mokelumne River east to Valley Springs. The depot and turntable were built around the completion of the last section, which was finished in April 1885 at a total cost of $409,570. Around 1904, Southern Pacific changed the line to standard gauge. In 1925, the line was extended 13 miles farther east to Kentucky House to serve the Calaveras Cement Company. Passenger service ended around 1932, but the line continued in freight service until the cement plant closed, and the last rail shipment of cement was in 1983.