The Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad was an important Southern Pacific route known by many names, including the Stockton-Tulare Railroad, the Oakdale Line, the Oakdale-Montpelier Railroad, and the Eastside Route. Northbound and southbound trains ran daily, carrying passengers, wheat, cattle, equipment, and new settlers. From the north, trains departed Stockton and stopped at Peters, Oakdale, Waterford, Hickman, Montpelier, Ryre, Basel at the Merced River, Arundel, Amsterdam, Nairn, Ferrin, and Merced, with the reverse route from Merced. Residents of Merced rode the train to Basel to enjoy recreation at the Merced River. Shaffer Bridge was built in 1912, twenty-two years after the train's trestle was erected, and the route was discontinued because of the demands of World War II.