The following description of the Traction Line is from the November 1979 issue of Railfan Railroad:

North of Lodi, it is relatively easy to follow the Traction Company. To the south the roads seem to cross tracks, but north of Acampo Road it’s possible to follow the train on paralleling Kennefict Road for several miles before having to go around while the Local negotiates the Dry Creek Bridge. Between Simmerhorn Road and Herald, the tracks are followed by Herald Road up to the SP Ione Branch crossing. State Highway 104, which follows the SP east, is not protected by automatic gates or lights, so the Local pulls up to the highway and brakeman will look both ways to see what the highway traffic is like before signaling the engineer to proceed. Once the way is reasonably clear, fuses are thrown into the roadway, the beautiful Nathan M5 airhorns blare, and the Local is on its way again.

Laguna Creek has another speed restriction for the trestle, and the Local will crawl across while anyone following can swing around to the far side via Alta Mesa Road to Colony Road. Although Colony Road is somewhat removed from the railroad, it is possible to follow the line rather closely and pick up the train at various locations. The further north the runs, the less intensive is the agriculture. By the time the railroad gets north of Herald, the scene is mostly pasture land with a few outlying clusters of homes, obviously chose by those who are attempting to escape the confines of the nearby cities.

As the Local nears Wilton, the afternoon will have worn well along, but the crew will likely be very much awake at this point. The 60 clobbered an empty sand truck at unprotected Green Road crossing a few months ago, and the resulting damage rendered the unit’s front steps into a ball of twisted metal and punched a couple of holes in the battery boxes on the engineer’s side. Fortunately, the only significant damage was to the truck and the Geep’s steps and not the crew or the truck driver. It seems unbelievable that the driver missed the oncoming red and white Geep with its electronic strobe flasher and blaring airhorns. For now, the crew is even more alert when approaching this particular crossing since the gravel pit just to the east assures a stream of trucks.

Just past Wilton, the train will slow for the most interesting and scenic part of the run. The Traction Company crosses the Cosumnes River and its high water bypass on a pair of long, low trestles, with Wilton Road paralleling within feet of the track. The train steps gingerly out onto the frail-looking structures with the engineer periodically peering down the 30 some feet to the ground below. Right in the middle of the main span is a mild curve to the north, which can provide excellent photographic results both north and southbound. As the train comes off the trestle, it must negotiate a small rise to get out of the river valley and up to Sheldon. By the time that the Local bellows up to Grant Line Road, which bisects Sheldon, the train will be making up speed for the last leg to Fruitridge. One interesting note on Sheldon is the last wood-sheathed boxcar on the railroad, Central California Traction 3051, an ex-WP 17000-series car which is used for storage of maintenance materials and tools.

North of Sheldon, the railroad makes a beeline across the countryside through an increasingly urban setting. Traffic on the interesting highways begins to take on a more bustling flavor as the train nears Sacramento, with evening commuters becoming the rule rather than the exception. The last couple of miles into Fruitridge exhibit a sharp contrast from the fields to the industrial developments which provide so much of the CCT’s income.

Upon arrival at Fruitridge, the Local will leave its cars on whatever track is available. Usually, the Fruitridge Switcher will have the Menking track clear, but occasionally, and often during the fall rush, the Local must stash its cars away onto several tracks. Once the train is in the clear, the Geep will be backed across Florin-Perkins Road and either left on the main or placed in the 80’s slot to allow the crew to go to beans. While the Local’s crew is at chow, RS1 80 will grab all of the WP cars and head for Haggin Yard on the northwest side of Sacramento. Once the Switcher returns, the Local will make up its train and head for home. During the long summer months, the Local will be departing town just as the twilight begins to engulf the setting sun.

Today, The Central California Traction Company provides freight service five days a week with only one run from Stockton to Sacramento and back.