Before 1912, Chowchilla had no Southern Pacific depot, and the nearest depot was at Minturn, six miles north. In 1912, land developer O.A. Robertson bought the Chowchilla Ranch and began selling parcels to ranchers in hopes of creating a colony. Southern Pacific saw strong shipping prospects there and moved the depot to a site just south of Robertson Blvd., where twenty passenger trains and numerous freight trains passed daily. By the 1950's, trucks had taken away most local shipping business, and Southern Pacific sold the depot, built in 1923, to VFW Post #9896 for one dollar; the VFW moved it to its present location in the early 1960's. O.A. Robertson also built the Chowchilla Pacific Railroad in 1915, operating it through his United States Farm Land Co. for service between Chowchilla and Dairyland. Running 13 miles from the Southern Pacific main line, it served the area for more than 40 years, carrying household belongings, farm stock, and children. Its Hall Scott coach, used for passenger and express service, was known to schoolchildren as the Chowchilla Terrific. In 1924, the line was purchased by the Visalia Electric RR Co., and the coach was renumbered 301. Southern Pacific bought the railroad in 1936.