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Author: Bruce A. MacGregor
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780804735506
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 673
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Book Description
This long-awaited study, the magnum opus of a leading railroad historian, describes the conception, construction, and early operation of the first narrow gauge railroads in northern California. It is lavishly illustrated by some 600 photographs and drawings, almost three-quarters of which have never before been published. The topic is approached through an unusual lens: the history of the relatively small but extraordinarily inventive contracting and engineering firm of the brothers Thomas and Martin Carter. The Carters were able to reduce the cost and complexity of light railroad construction to the point where local narrow gauge lines could initially compete with the state’s notorious railroad monopolies. Pioneering a mobile manufacturing operation that could supply locally funded short lines with rolling stock (which traditionally came from East Coast manufacturers), the Carter Brothers began with a line to serve Salinas Valley wheat farmers, desperate to achieve an independent means for conveying their crops to the wharf in Monterey. The narrow gauge railroad that resulted was an act of political and economic defiance, but ultimately a hopeless assault on the "Octopus"—the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads. Rallying around the example set in Monterey, a narrow gauge movement in California flourished in the mid-1870s, with the rapid launching of five more companies—the North Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Railroad, the Santa Cruz & Felton, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge, and the South Pacific Coast—all of which drew on the Carter Brothers for manufacturing and engineering. Soon, Thomas and Martin Carter were not only selling railroad supplies and engineering to all six short lines, but had won management positions with the strongest, the South Pacific Coast. Until personal and financial disaster overtook them in 1880, the Carters were at the forefront of not just a new business, but a new technology.
Author: Bruce A. MacGregor
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780804735506
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 673
Get Book Here
Book Description
This long-awaited study, the magnum opus of a leading railroad historian, describes the conception, construction, and early operation of the first narrow gauge railroads in northern California. It is lavishly illustrated by some 600 photographs and drawings, almost three-quarters of which have never before been published. The topic is approached through an unusual lens: the history of the relatively small but extraordinarily inventive contracting and engineering firm of the brothers Thomas and Martin Carter. The Carters were able to reduce the cost and complexity of light railroad construction to the point where local narrow gauge lines could initially compete with the state’s notorious railroad monopolies. Pioneering a mobile manufacturing operation that could supply locally funded short lines with rolling stock (which traditionally came from East Coast manufacturers), the Carter Brothers began with a line to serve Salinas Valley wheat farmers, desperate to achieve an independent means for conveying their crops to the wharf in Monterey. The narrow gauge railroad that resulted was an act of political and economic defiance, but ultimately a hopeless assault on the "Octopus"—the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads. Rallying around the example set in Monterey, a narrow gauge movement in California flourished in the mid-1870s, with the rapid launching of five more companies—the North Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Railroad, the Santa Cruz & Felton, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge, and the South Pacific Coast—all of which drew on the Carter Brothers for manufacturing and engineering. Soon, Thomas and Martin Carter were not only selling railroad supplies and engineering to all six short lines, but had won management positions with the strongest, the South Pacific Coast. Until personal and financial disaster overtook them in 1880, the Carters were at the forefront of not just a new business, but a new technology.
Author: Donald R. Floyd
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Narrow gauge railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 144
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Book Description
Author: Gerald Best
Publisher: Heimburger House Publishing Company
ISBN: 9780911581461
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Book Description
Heimburger House announces another new book offering, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge by Gerald M. Best, a 214-page hardbound history of this well-known narrow gauge line in California. With 284 photographs, maps, diagrams and rosters, Nevada County Narrow Gauge recounts the story of this short line railroad that served California’s northern mines, mostly quartz gold mines. The line opened for business on May 24, 1876 when the first regular train ran between the two end points. High trestles, tunnels, steep grades and sharp curves, picturesque stations and yards are what this shortline was all about. The railroad ran between Colfax, through Grass Valley and up to Nevada City, California, north and east of Sacramento. The railroad, besides carrying large quantities of lumber, farm produce and feeds, Bartlett pears and peaches, grapes, walnuts, apples and citrus fruits, carried gold shipments for the San Francisco Mint—and never was this part of the business marred by a holdup or even an attempted one, though the total amount of gold shipped was $250 million. With the war in Europe, and permits to mine gold cancelled, the NCNG became more valuable as scrap. The gross revenue for 1941 was down $50,000 in two years to $118,000, and a Federal order to shut the mines in October of 1942 was the final blow. On July 10, 1942, the railroad ran its last revenue train. Some of the equipment went to the White Pass & Yukon, while some went to Hawaii for use by the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge was a pioneer, there being only four other common carrier railroads of 3-foot gauge completed in California before May of 1876. It had been built without subsidy and outlasted many of its contemporaries except the Carson & Colorado. Over its 66-year life span, the rail line gave employment to hundreds of people, and made it possible for the mines to operate without interruption, and earning $7.2 million in revenues along the way. It’s gone—but not forgotten! The book features a beautiful color painting of NCNG locomotive #5 on the dustjacket, painted by noted artist John Hugh Coker. The book was first printed many years ago.
Author: George Barton Turner
Publisher: Oso Publishing
ISBN: 9781931064026
Category : Narrow gauge railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Book Description
Author: George Barton Turner
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 168
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Book Description
Author: Donald Ray Floyd
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 286
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Book Description
Author: Walter Rice
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738555911
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 132
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Book Description
Diversity is the prime characteristic of the California Central Coast's many rail operations. Readers will be attracted by the varying scope of Central Coast--Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo Counties--rail systems. They range from local horsecar services and the narrow-gauge electrified plant railroad that served the Santa Cruz Cement Company at Davenport to the Southern Pacific Railroad's Coast Line and its engineering marvel Cuesta Grade, highlighted by the world-famous horseshoe curve. Local streetcar systems and long-ceased regional railroads are part of the area's rail legacy. Rare historic images blended with contemporary photography chronicle the region's railways from times past to the present.
Author: California Central Narrow Gauge Railroad Company
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Railroads
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
Author: Gerald M. Best
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Gold mines and mining
Languages : en
Pages : 234
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Book Description
Author: Ables Bray Dickinson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Narrow gauge railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 178
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Book Description
This history covers the lifetime of a small but important California railroad and ferry line which once transported thousands from San Francisco each year north across the bay into Marin County and beyond. The North Pacific Coast Railroad (NPC) was a common carrier narrow gauge steam railroad begun in 1874 and sold in 1902 to new owners who renamed it the North Shore Railroad (California) (NSR) and which rebuilt the southern section into a standard gauge electric railroad. The NPC operated in the northern California counties of Marin and Sonoma that carried redwood lumber, local dairy and agricultural products, express and passengers. The NPC operated almost 93 mi (150 km) of track that extended from a pier at Sausalito (which connected the line via ferry to San Francisco) and operated northwest to Duncans Mills and Cazadero (also known as Ingrams). The NPC became the North Shore Railroad (California) (NSR) on March 7, 1902. In 1907 the North Shore Railroad became part of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad (NWP). Southern portions of the line were standard gauged and electrified by the North Shore for suburban passenger service, though most of the trackage north of San Rafael remained 3 ft (914 mm) gauge until abandonment in the late 1930s. All of the NPC trackage has been abandoned either by the NPC or the NWP. Some of the original right of way can be seen at the Samuel P. Taylor State Park near Fairfax, along the shore of Tomales Bay and Keyes Estuary and passenger depots remain in San Anselmo and Duncan Mills. One NPC steam locomotive, No.12, "The Sonoma," remains as a restored static exhibit in its circa 1870s appearance at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.
