On January 29, 1912, the Red River Lumber Company and the Southern Pacific Railroad entered into an agreement for the construction of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad. Time was essential, with completion date of two years. Red River already had a contractual obligation with Great Western Power Company to remove the timber from Big Meadows, which would be flooded to create Lake Almanor in 1914..

The line would extend from Fernley, Nevada to a point west of Susanville to be named Westwood Junction. At that point a nine-mile spur would be built south to the soon to be company town of Westwood.

By the fall of 1913, the tracks had reached Susanville. The most formidable task was the Susan River Canyon, wherein the Southern Pacific put 1,000 men to work to meet the January 1914 deadline. However, Mother Nature had a mind of her own, and lashed a series of record breaking storms. Even with eight feet of snow in Susanville during January 1914, was not  a deterrent for the construction. Though due to the unusual circumstances Red River and Southern Pacific agreed upon a two-month extension to the deadline.

On February 21, 1914 the rails reached their destination to Westwood. It would not be until fall when all work was completed such as ballast and sidings.

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