CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Sierra Railway - Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown CA - 10-24-2017 - part 2

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. SRy caboose 7 was getting repainted. It is ex-Elgin, Joliet & Eastern built in 1923 and acquired by Sierra in 1956.
SRy caboose 7 was getting repainted. It is ex-Elgin, Joliet & Eastern built in 1923 and acquired by Sierra in 1956.

2. The SRy yard. I didn’t explore this area. Jamestown CA.
The SRy yard. I didn’t explore this area. Jamestown CA.

3. Two old cabs that I think came from Pickering Lumber Co. (I found a picture of a very similar cab in Lucius Beebe’s Highball, A Pageant of Trains.) Pickering operated in Tuolumne County and connected with the Sierra.
Two old cabs that I think came from Pickering Lumber Co. (I found a picture of a very similar cab in Lucius Beebe’s Highball, A Pageant of Trains.) Pickering operated in Tuolumne County and connected with the Sierra.

4. I heard a horn coming from the south. Soon Sierra Northern Railway 52 ambled through the junction. Jamestown CA.
I heard a horn coming from the south. Soon Sierra Northern Railway 52 ambled through the junction. Jamestown CA.

5. Sierra Northern Ry. was formed in 2003 through the merger of the Sierra Railroad Co. and the Yolo Shortline Railroad. They operate the 48 miles to Oakdale to Sonora. Sierra Northern Ry 52. View 2. Jamestown CA.
Sierra Northern Ry. was formed in 2003 through the merger of the Sierra Railroad Co. and the Yolo Shortline Railroad. They operate the 48 miles to Oakdale to Sonora. Sierra Northern Ry 52. View 2. Jamestown CA.

6. Sierra Northern Ry No. 52 is an R. J. Corman/Railpower RP20DB genset built in 2014 from Yolo Shortline 135. View 3. Jamestown CA.
Sierra Northern Ry No. 52 is an R. J. Corman/Railpower RP20DB genset built in 2014 from Yolo Shortline 135. View 3. Jamestown CA.

7. Sierra Northern Ry 52. View 4. Jamestown CA.
Sierra Northern Ry 52. View 4. Jamestown CA.

8. Sierra Northern Ry 52 is heading up the hill to switch the lumber mill at Sonora which is only a couple of miles away and now the end of the line. View 5. Jamestown CA.
Sierra Northern Ry 52 is heading up the hill to switch the lumber mill at Sonora which is only a couple of miles away and now the end of the line. View 5. Jamestown CA.

9. The junction looking north. To the right is Sierra Northern’s main line to Sonora. Straight is park trackage which leads to the depot area and the now-abandoned Angels Branch. The park operates their trains on several miles of the SN’s main. SN uses a track warrant system. SRy junction. Jamestown CA.
The junction looking north. To the right is Sierra Northern’s main line to Sonora. Straight is park trackage which leads to the depot area and the now-abandoned Angels Branch. The park operates their trains on several miles of the SN’s main. SN uses a track warrant system. SRy junction. Jamestown CA.

10. This water tank has been used as a prop in numerous movies and TV shows. It is most recognizable for its role in the TV series Petticoat Junction. It has been modified since, perhaps for safety reasons, so the three Bradley sisters can’t use it for bathing any more. That big tank in behind may be fuel oil for the locomotives. SRy tanks. Jamestown CA.
This water tank has been used as a prop in numerous movies and TV shows. It is most recognizable for its role in the TV series Petticoat Junction. It has been modified since, perhaps for safety reasons, so the three Bradley sisters can’t use it for bathing any more. That big tank in behind may be fuel oil for the locomotives. SRy tanks. Jamestown CA.

11. I would suspect the column for oil is the one with the bucket. SRy fuel oil & water spouts.
I would suspect the column for oil is the one with the bucket. SRy fuel oil & water spouts.

12. The roundhouse/shop lead. SRy terminal. Jamestown CA.
The roundhouse/shop lead. SRy terminal. Jamestown CA.

13. SRY 612 is an ex-U. S. Army ALCo MRS-1 (1000 HP) built in 1953. Those trucks are adjustable for use on foreign railroads of a different gauge.
SRY 612 is an ex-U. S. Army ALCo MRS-1 (1000 HP) built in 1953. Those trucks are adjustable for use on foreign railroads of a different gauge.

14. Being a buff of older rolling stock, this ancient tank car got my attention more than anything else on the property. We can see the faint lettering of SRR (Sierra Railroad) 606. I found lettering indicating it was built in 8-1907. “.....Refining Company”, “LA&SGV” and “Do Not Drink” give a few hints. Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley was a short railroad that Santa Fe acquired many, many years ago in the expanding Los Angeles area. Evidently this car was owned at some time by a refining company which was common for the era. It may have been used to transport water after and before its petroleum career hence the warning not to drink the water it contained. Santa Fe had water problems in the desert southwest, and ran trains of tank cars for locomotive water. SRR tank car 606. Jamestown CA.
Being a buff of older rolling stock, this ancient tank car got my attention more than anything else on the property. We can see the faint lettering of SRR (Sierra Railroad) 606. I found lettering indicating it was built in 8-1907. “.....Refining Company”, “LA&SGV” and “Do Not Drink” give a few hints. Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley was a short railroad that Santa Fe acquired many, many years ago in the expanding Los Angeles area. Evidently this car was owned at some time by a refining company which was common for the era. It may have been used to transport water after and before its petroleum career hence the warning not to drink the water it contained. Santa Fe had water problems in the desert southwest, and ran trains of tank cars for locomotive water. SRR tank car 606. Jamestown CA.

15. SRR tank car 606 truck.
SRR tank car 606 truck.

16. SRR tank car 606. View 2.
SRR tank car 606. View 2.

17. This air-operated turntable was acquired from Great Northern and replaced an “armstrong” turntable in 1922. SRy turntable.
This air-operated turntable was acquired from Great Northern and replaced an “armstrong” turntable in 1922. SRy turntable.

18. The SRy truck shed houses smaller equipment and is an appendage to the roundhouse.
The SRy truck shed houses smaller equipment and is an appendage to the roundhouse.

19. Motor car was running and brought outside to check over. SRR 80 MW motor car.
Motor car was running and brought outside to check over. SRR 80 MW motor car.

20. From the evidence I saw, this SRy boxcar is former Western Pacific. To the right of the steps is the supply of refractory brick for a locomotive fire box.
From the evidence I saw, this SRy boxcar is former Western Pacific. To the right of the steps is the supply of refractory brick for a locomotive fire box.

21. This brick came from A. P. Green Refractories, a subsidiary of Harbison Walker International. You might recall that Harbison-Walker Refractories had a brick plant on the C&O at Olive Hill, Ky.
This brick came from A. P. Green Refractories, a subsidiary of Harbison Walker International. You might recall that Harbison-Walker Refractories had a brick plant on the C&O at Olive Hill, Ky.

22. Hetch Hetchy motor car No 10 powered by a White engine.
Hetch Hetchy motor car No 10 powered by a White engine.

23. SRy No 28 a 2-8-0 undergoing repair. It was built by Baldwin and acquired new by the Sierra Ry. in 1922. Sierra also operated an ex-Weyerhaeuser Timber 2-6-6-2 for a few years in the early 1950s. This Mallet is still around, but I’m not sure where.
SRy No 28 a 2-8-0 undergoing repair. It was built by Baldwin and acquired new by the Sierra Ry. in 1922. Sierra also operated an ex-Weyerhaeuser Timber 2-6-6-2 for a few years in the early 1950s. This Mallet is still around, but I’m not sure where.

24. Cab of SRy 28 a 2-8-0.
Cab of SRy 28 a 2-8-0.

25. SRy combine 5 was built in 1902 by W. L. Holman & Co. of San Francisco. Like coach 6 it is only 32 feet long in order to preserve room on the Angels Branch switchbacks.
SRy combine 5 was built in 1902 by W. L. Holman & Co. of San Francisco. Like coach 6 it is only 32 feet long in order to preserve room on the Angels Branch switchbacks.

26. SRy cab 7.
SRy cab 7.

27. SRy cab 7. View 2.
SRy cab 7. View 2.

28. In the gift shop I purchased a copy of the Arcadia Publishing Images of Rail series book Sierra Railway by Stephen D. Mikesell. He does a good job covering the lines early history, equipment and extensive movie career. I wish a paper copy of this map had been available. Sierra RR map. Click here for an enlarged image.
In the gift shop I purchased a copy of the Arcadia Publishing Images of Rail series book Sierra Railway by Stephen D. Mikesell. He does a good job covering the lines early history, equipment and extensive movie career. I wish a paper copy of this map had been available. Sierra RR map.

29. Pickering Lumber Co. operated this steam powered derrick. I don’t know of “1305” on the frame just above the rear truck is the unit or American Hoist & Derrick’s serial number. AH&D built the first steam-powered locomotive crane over 100 years ago. Notice the rods on the wheels. They acquired Industrial Brownhoist Co. in 1960. In 1987 they merged with Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. of Bucyrus OH to become American & Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. It is now a American Crane Corp., a division of Terex. Brownhoist, Ohio and American are familiar brands of locomotive cranes and derricks.
Pickering Lumber Co. operated this steam powered derrick. I don’t know of “1305” on the frame just above the rear truck is the unit or American Hoist & Derrick’s serial number. AH&D built the first steam-powered locomotive crane over 100 years ago. Notice the rods on the wheels. They acquired Industrial Brownhoist Co. in 1960. In 1987 they merged with Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. of Bucyrus OH to become American & Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. It is now a American Crane Corp., a division of Terex. Brownhoist, Ohio and American are familiar brands of locomotive cranes and derricks.

30. Pickering Lumber connected with Sierra and is shown at the top of the map. Pickering Lbr Co crane. View 2.
Pickering Lumber connected with Sierra and is shown at the top of the map. Pickering Lbr Co crane. View 2.

31. Pickering Lbr Co crane. View 3.
Pickering Lbr Co crane. View 3.

32. Sue had waited patiently in the car under a shade tree while I did my thing. Now it was time to visit the antique stores on Main Street of Jamestown (I didn’t get off cheap!) Main St. Jamestown CA.
Sue had waited patiently in the car under a shade tree while I did my thing. Now it was time to visit the antique stores on Main Street of Jamestown (I didn’t get off cheap!) Main St. Jamestown CA.

33. Main St. Jamestown CA. View 2.
Main St. Jamestown CA. View 2.

Afterward we drove the three miles to to Sonora which is equally quaint. We didn’t have time to visit the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, so that is an excuse for another trip. We headed south to Fresno and later to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young