Prior to mid-summer 2006, the McCloud River Railroad Company and the McCloud Railway Company both were primarily oriented towards hauling freight. As detailed elsewhere on this site, however, a declining traffic base finally forced the McCloud Railway to end freight service to the last two regular shippers on the line, both in Burney, and to abandon the railroad east of McCloud.

The original purpose of the McCloud River Railroad was to provide freight service to its parent, the McCloud River Lumber Company. However, as the timber industry in the area grew, the railroad extended service to other sawmills as well. Freight traffic on the road has almost always been primarily outbound lumber and forest products. Through the 1960’s and into the 1970’s, no less than six sawmills shipped over the rails of the McCloud River. The six sawmills were: