Colton is a city located in San Bernardino County, California. It was founded in 1875 and named after David Douty Colton, a vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The city has a rich history in freight transportation, as it was a major hub for the Southern Pacific Railroad during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The railroad brought economic prosperity to Colton, attracting industries and businesses to the area. Today, Colton is still an important transportation hub, with several major freeways intersecting in the city, including Interstate 10 and Interstate 215.

One of the notable landmarks in Colton is the Colton Crossing, which is a major railroad junction. It is one of the busiest railroad crossings in the United States, with over 100 trains passing through daily. The crossing is a significant bottleneck in the rail network, as it is the only place in the country where the Union Pacific and BNSF Railway lines intersect at the same grade level. Efforts have been made to alleviate congestion at the crossing, including the construction of a new flyover bridge to separate the two rail lines.