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Narrow Gauge Nostalgia A compendium of California Short Lines by George Turner
Narrow Gauge Nostalgia By George Turner
A compendium of Californai Short Lines
Hard Cover
Copyright 1965
159 Pages
Owners name plate on first page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1
Bodie & Benton Railway9
SECTION 2
Brookings Lumber & Box Company27
SECTION 3
Carson & Colorado Pictorial 38
SECTION 4
Diamond & Caldor Railway 61
SECTION 5
Merced Gold Mine Railroad 93
SECTION 6
Mt. Lowe Pictorial 100
SECTION 7
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad
Nevada County Traction Company 111
SECTION 8
Plaster City Narrow Gauge Railroad 139
Introduction
Nearly a century has passed since the narrow gauge was established as "The" answer to economical railroading in the hinterlands of our growing nation. Although this trend was fathered in Colorado by the Denver & Rio Grande R. R. in 1870, the next ten years were to see Ohio take the lead with some 23 roads being constructed. Colorado came in second, with 22.
By the turn of the century, narrow gauge railroads accounted for more than 16,000 miles of trackage. The Golden State has accounted for 85 light iron roads . . . most of them having been born of bread and water concept and located in areas that eluded all but the intrepid.
Over 90 years of slim rail history are represented in the contents, from the grading of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge in 1875 to the current operations of the U. S. Gypsum Railroad at Plaster City. During this time span, "the large" (Carson & Colorado R.R.) and "the small" (Merced Gold Mine R. R.) were to flourish and then vanish. The vast California timberlands are in part delineated by the Bodie & Benton Ry., Brookings Lumber & Box R.R. and the Diamond & Caldor R.R. Two pictorial sections are also included, to further illustrate the unique Mt. Lowe scenic railway and the colorful Carson & Colorado.
The historic valiants of this book existed upon a diet that would have given the large roads ulcers. Schedules were mainly a guide. Mechanical problems were solved by improvising and,* prayer. Weather in these remote areas was a relentless adversary. Largely through the personal attention by the principals did the narrow gauge show a return for their efforts and, as the years passed, much of the profit was measured in intangibles. Equipment became nomads, orphans, or were put to sleep on some obscure siding to await the inevitable dawn of no return, via the scrappers' torch. It is indeed a phenomenon that there are survivors today of an all but forgotten segment of rail transportation.
Consideration has been given those who also have an interest in model railroading. Due to the relatively small scope of the prototype, adaption of a narrow gauge branch to the model pike is relatively easy. The rugged personality of the original when reproduced in miniature is sheer fascination. Where possible, the plans that are presented were drawn from builders' data, railroad archives or were dimensioned from the original piece of equipment. Changes in ownership, wrecks or other resultant out shopping cannot therefore always assure a static configuration, as drafted herein.
The gathering of background information for the variety of locations that the subject railroads covered resulted in the author's contacting many persons. Gratitude to those who so graciously contributed in any manner cannot be minimized. Of particular assistance in providing the fine plans and illustration drawings were Dick Appel, Al Barker, Herb Cearley, Dr. James Dean, Herman Darr, Cliff Grandt and John Lewis . . . only those knowledgeable in the drafting arts can realize a full understanding of their efforts.
Special mention is made of Gordon Corwin, John Cummings, Adolph Gutohrlein, Hank Johnston, Mike Kessler, Al Graves, Eric Sanders, Bert Ward and Ted Wurm for their valuable time and effort afforded this book. Further appreciation is made to Mal Ferrell, Ken Kidder, Warren E. Miller, Fred Matthews, Vernon Sappers, Walt Stampfli and all others whose names appear elsewhere for credits.
Additional reference material was made possible through the Forestry and Bancroft Libraries of the University of California, the Getchell Library of the University of Nevada, The Eastern California Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum . . . . all of which are to be especially commended for their cooperation.
And now, let us regress into an atmosphere of rustic nostalgia when the gold camps were helping to win the west . . . . when speed was secondary to gracious travel . . . and the narrow gauge forged its way through California, sans fanfare, to a destiny less than it deserved.
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