Carson and Colorado Railway
Locale | California and Nevada |
---|---|
Dates of operation | 1880–1960 |
Successor | Southern Pacific Company |
Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
Length | c. 300 miles (480 km) |
The Carson and Colorado Railway was a U.S. 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad that ran from Mound House, Nevada, to Keeler, California below the Cerro Gordo Mines. It was incorporated on May 10, 1880 as the Carson and Colorado Railroad, and construction on the railroad began on May 31, 1880. 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge track was chosen to reduce cost. Much of the route parallels U.S. Route 95 Alternate, U.S. Route 95, Nevada State Route 360 or U.S. Route 6
The Carson & Colorado began operations with a single Baldwin 4-4-0, the Candelaria. The first train arrived at Keeler on August 1, 1883. The 300-mile route reached an altitude of 7100 feet in Montgomery Pass.[1] The railroad served an arid area heavily dependent on mineral resources for economic activity. The line was reorganized as the Carson and Colorado Railway in 1892 to reduce accumulated debt.[2]
Sale to the Southern Pacific
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad, the parent company of the C&C, sold the line to the Southern Pacific Company in 1900. Silver and gold discoveries at Tonopah, Nevada and Goldfield, Nevada provided a major boost of revenues shortly after the Southern Pacific purchase.[2] The northern 140 miles from Mound House to Mina, Nevada was converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge in 1905; and the C&C was merged into the Southern Pacific's 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge subsidiary, the Nevada and California Railroad.[3] The Nevada and California Railroad was reorganized into the Central Pacific Railroad in 1912.[3] In the early 20th century, it operated under the name "Southern Pacific Keeler Branch". Portions of the line were abandoned in the 1930s and the 1940s, and the last narrow gauge common carrier made its final run on April 29, 1960.[4] The rails were removed in January, 1961. The former parent company, the V&T, is currently being reconstructed.
Locomotives
Number | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st #1 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1880 | 5285 | sold to Eureka and Palisade Railroad 1907 |
2nd #1 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 | 1914 | 41300 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #14 acquired 1928 sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #9 1933 |
3rd #1 | General Electric | Diesel | 1954 | 32226 | sold 1961 |
2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1881 | 5428 | scrapped 1907 |
1st #3 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1881 | 5430 | scrapped 1908 |
2nd #3 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1887 | 8791 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #3 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
1st #4 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1881 | 55782 | sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #7 1929 |
2nd #4 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1899 | 17124 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #4 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
1st #5 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1882 | 6089 | scrapped 1932 |
2nd #5 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1899 | 17123 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #5 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
1st #6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1882 | 6090 | scrapped 1907 |
2nd #6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1877 | 4223 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #6 merged 1905 scrapped 1926 |
3rd #6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1903 | 22020 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #6 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
1st #7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1883 | 6687 | scrapped 1932 |
2nd #7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1903 | 22012 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #7 acquired 1928 scrapped 1935 |
1st #8 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1883 | 6689 | scrapped 1932 |
2nd #8 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1907 | 31445 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #8 acquired 1928 donated to Sparks, Nevada 1955 |
1st #9 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1885 | 7604 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #16 merged 1905 scrapped 1911 |
2nd #9 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1909 | 34035 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #9 acquired 1928 donated to Laws, California 1960 |
10 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1885 | 7605 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #17 merged 1905 scrapped 1933 |
11 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-6-0 | 1881 | 5649 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #11 merged 1905 rebuilt to 4-6-0 1924 scrapped 1934 |
12 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-6-0 | 1881 | 5650 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #12 merged 1905 rebuilt to 4-6-0 1924 scrapped 1934 |
13 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 | 1882 | 6157 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #13 merged 1905 scrapped 1927 |
14 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1886 | 7939 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #18 merged 1905 retired 1945 |
15 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1889 | 9929 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #22 merged 1905 scrapped 1935 |
16 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1886 | 7941 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #19 merged 1905 scrapped 1935 |
17 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1887 | 8487 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #21 merged 1905 retired 1945 |
18 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1911 | 37395 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #12 acquired 1928 donated to Independence, California 1955 |
22 | Schenectady Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1899 | 5399 | ex- Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad then Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #22 acquired 1929 scrapped 1949 |
Towns served by the C&C
- Mound House, Nevada (V&T Railroad to Carson City and Virginia City)
- Dayton, Nevada
- Fort Churchill, Nevada
- Wabuska, Nevada (Copper Belt Railway to Yerington)
- Lux, Nevada
- Moquist, Nevada
- Rio Vista, Nevada
- Schurz, Nevada
- Stuckey, Nevada
- Gillis, Nevada
- Rand, Nevada
- Magnus, Nevada
- Walker, Nevada
- Thorne, Nevada
- Hawthorne, Nevada (branch to Cottonwood)
- Cottonwood, Nevada (branch only)
- Kinkead, Nevada
- Luning, Nevada
- Mina, Nevada
- Sodaville, Nevada
- Rhodes, Nevada
- Tonopah Junction, Nevada (Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad)
- Belleville, Nevada
- Filben, Nevada (spur to Candelaria)
- Candelaria, Nevada (spur only)
- Basalt, Nevada
- Summit, Nevada
- Queen, Nevada
- Benton, California
- Hammill, California
- Laws, California
- Zurich, California
- Monola, California (formerly Alvord)
- Aberdeen, California (formerly Tibbets)
- Kearsarge, California
- Manzanar, California
- Owenyo, California (Southern Pacific Railroad to Lone Pine, Ridgecrest, and Los Angeles)
- Alico, California
- Dolomite, California
- Mock, California
- Keeler, California[5][6]
Restoration Effort
In Independence, California, a non-profit group re-incorporated the Carson and Colorado Railway. They have restored locomotive #18, which was left in Independence in excellent condition by the Southern Pacific in 1955. The locomotive moved under it 's own power for the first time in 62 years on Saturday October 15th 2016. The group has been acquiring land, buildings, ties, rails, and cars to go along with this locomotive They have a plan in place to begin construction of an engine house and to lay 1100 feet of rail at a local museum site.[7]
Gallery of C&C equipment
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The second engine #9, painted in Southern Pacific livery, currently located at the Laws Railroad Museum in Laws, California.
-
The engine #18, painted in Southern Pacific livery, currently located in Independence, California. Currently under restoration.
-
Carson & Colorado Caboose #1, currently located at the Laws Railroad Museum in Laws, California.
-
Carson & Colorado boxcar #7, currently located at the Laws Railroad Museum in Laws, California.
Sources
- Exploring a Ghost Railroad
- The Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge
- Carson and Colorado Railway Restoration Effort
- Carson and Colorado Railway Facebook Page
References
- Turner, George (1974). Slim Rails through the Sand (3rd edition). Trans-Anglo Books. ISBN 0-87046-016-1.
- Likes, Robert C. (1975). From This Mountain. Community Printing & Publishing. ISBN 0-912494-15-8.
- ↑ Turner 1974 p.2
- 1 2 Turner 1974 p.4
- 1 2 Turner 1974 p.6
- ↑ Likes 1975 p.83
- ↑ "Carson and Colorado Route Map". Retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ↑ "Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge, officially known as the Keeler Branch". Retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ↑ http://www.carsoncolorado.com
Research resources
- Guide to the Carson & Colorado Railroad Company records, 1881–1901, at The Bancroft Library
- A Guide to the Carson and Colorado Railroad Records, NC71. Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Reno.