Earlier horsecar tracks were improved and electrified under consolidated ownership which passed to Southern Pacific Transportation Company operation in 1910.
The Fresno City Railway rebuilt these horsecar lines with 11.5 miles (18.5 km) of 61-pound rail in 1901 in preparation for heavier electric streetcars.
[1] Southern Pacific announced its intention to replace all remaining service with buses, only to sell the system to National City Lines a few weeks later in March 1939.
Construction of that line proceeded slowly eastward from Fresno with a Hall-Scott gasoline motor car providing service over the completed portion.
When the Hall-Scott car broke down in September 1917, Santa Fe Railroad #2157 0-6-0 was leased to continue service over the main line.
Passenger service to Fresno State College ended when the interurban declared bankruptcy in 1918; and Santa Fe purchased the company in 1922.