 When the track was delivered to National City in July 1883, SP officials hired the sheriff there to seize the track section and prevent its installation.The sheriff kept the track under 24-hour guard, but Perris's men were able to retake the track while the sheriff napped, loaded the track on a flatcar and started northward with it toward Colton, where it was to be installed.Perris obtained a court order on August 11, 1883, that would legally allow California Southern to install the new track section.