On February 12, 1855, construction began on the rail line, starting at R and 3rd Streets in Sacramento, for the Sacramento Valley Railroad. This was the beginning of the first rail line in California. The railroad company was incorporated in 1852 and Theodore Judah was hired in May 1854 to survey a proposed rail line from Sacramento to Marysville by way of Folsom. Due to financial issues, grading did not occur until February 1855 and laying of tracks began in August, around the same time William