A piece of Orange County’s rail history has found a new home.
Last month, OCTA presented a historic cast-iron plaque from the original San Juan Creek railroad bridge to the San Juan Capistrano City Council, helping preserve an artifact from a structure that served South Orange County for more than a century.
The plaque, which adorned the bridge built in 1917 by the American Bridge Company, was formally presented by OCTA Chair Jamey M. Federico during a City Council meeting. It is one of the few remaining artifacts preserved from the original bridge, which carried passenger and freight trains across San Juan Creek for more than 100 years.
“While we are investing in modern infrastructure to serve future generations, it is equally important to preserve and celebrate the history that helped shape our communities,” Federico said. “This plaque represents more than a bridge – it represents over a century of rail service that connected South Orange County to the rest of Southern California.”
The plaque serves as a reminder of the region’s rich rail legacy and the important role rail transportation has played in connecting communities throughout Southern California.
In October 2025, rail service was shifted onto the newly constructed San Juan Creek Bridge, a key milestone in OCTA and Metrolink’s efforts to modernize infrastructure along the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor. Construction on the project continues, with the new bridge designed to provide safer, more resilient rail service for decades to come.