Description
This collection contains the papers of Southern Pacific valuation engineer Lynn D. Farrar, who was an important collector
of Southern Pacific historical materials and the lead of the Southern Pacific Historical Cost Study, a multi-year, multi-million
dollar project undertaken by Southern Pacific to determine the cost of the construction of Southern Pacific, its subsidiary
and predecessor companies.
Background
Lynn D. Farrar was born in California in 1912. He attended the University of California, Berkeley and graduated in 1944, whereupon
he enlisted in the US Army. After World War II, he attended the University of Paris, and worked in the Office of Military
Government for the United States in Berlin, Germany for 2-1/2 years.
In 1948, he was hired by Southern Pacific Company as a junior engineer. He as a valuation engineer for the SP Valuation Department
for several decades. Notably, he was the project lead for the Southern Pacific Historical Cost Study.
When he retired from the Southern Pacific in 1986, Mr. Farrar founded Transport Consultants, Inc. to work for Southern Pacific
on The Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Project, a collaborative project between first class class railroads through the Association
of American Railroads, defense contractors and the United States Air Force, which sought to identify locations along railroad
right of way that would be suitable for MX missile launches from a train.
Mr. Farrar died in 2016. He is survived by a son.
Extent
20 linear feet (44 archives boxes + 3 half boxes + 5 oversize boxes + 1 photo box)
Restrictions
Permission for publication must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives.
Availability
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff for details.