California
has a rich railroad history. After the Transcontinental Railroad was
completed in 1869, California grew and prospered at a rapid rate.
Railroads of all types played significant roles in the state’s history,
and continue to make innovative progress today. We present three sites
which preserve and operate unique pieces of California rail history.
Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad - (Felton, CA) Big
Trees Ranch was founded in 1867, in order to preserve a large area of
redwood forest from logging. The railroad began operating in 1963, and
runs 3.25 miles on steep grades to the top of Bear Mountain. Passengers
ride through a canopy of giant redwoods pulled by Shay, Heisler and
Climax geared locomotives. We captured our footage during the annual
Civil War encampment. To handle the large crowds, the railroad operated
all trains in two sections during our visit, featuring Shay Dixiana and Heisler Tuolumne.
Billy Jones Railroad
- (Los Gatos, CA) Our program features #2, a Grand Scale locomotive
built in 1905 for the Venice Railway in Venice Beach, CA. In 1939,
railroad man Billy Jones discovered #2 in a scrap pile and bought it.
After restoring the 2-6-2, he built a railroad to run it on. Following
his death, the railroad was rebuilt on a nearby park land. The railroad
also has 3 diesels and steam locomotive #5, a 4-6-2 which had just
arrived on the property prior to our visit.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
- (Jamestown, CA) Railtown 1897 operates over part of the Sierra
Railway at Jamestown, which is also the site of the historic Sierra
Railway Shops and Roundhouse. Our program features Sierra #3, built in
1891 by Rogers Locomotive Works and fully restored in 2010. This
locomotive and the Sierra Railway have starred in over 100 motion
pictures and television programs from the 1920s to the present.