In 1996, the Union Pacific Railroad received permission to abandon an 85 mile segment of railroad from Wendel to Likely. Since then it has been converted into another “rails to trails.” It should be duly it was the NCO Railroad that initialy constructed the line and in the 1920s it was acquired by the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The Horse Lake Station later siding was established in the early 1900s by the NCO. It was so named after Horse Lake, located five miles to the west. An interesting footnote in its history. In 1913, the Shumway Post Office at Horse Lake was closed. In 1916, Horse Lake residents attempted to re-establish the post office and have a mail drop off at the NCO’s Horse Lake Siding. The postal authorities denied the request. They stated they did not need a mail drop off as there were only four permanent families residing in the area. In addition, it was cited, the NCO was an unreliable operation, with irregular train service, and since there was no attendant there, there was no way the mail could be protected. In 1961, the Southern Pacific abandoned the siding.
