Steam & Excursion > Roaring Camp RR Takes Delivery Of Shay - Dixiana 1962!

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of operations at Felton, CA on the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad. Many of us who grew up in the Bay Area remember getting some of our first taste of steam railroading at Felton.

The first engine to be purchased by Roaring Camp Founder Norman Clark was this 42-ton 3'-gauge Shay from back east that was quickly re-built to operate on the Roaring Camp initial trains. She still runs today as the "Dixiana".

Here we see the Dixiana as she looked upon delivery at Felton in November 1962. Fortunately for us Dick Harrison was on hand to record these rare views of the very beginning of steam at Roaring Camp some 50 years ago.

We are fortunate that this same engine (and those others who have joined her over the years) is still putting in daily service on the steep grades of the Roaring Camp operation. Happy 50th Anniversary!


Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/13 05:43 by LoggerHogger.

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Thank you Martin Im planning a trip there today.....

Thanks Martin, for noting the anniversary. Roaring Camp is an amazing place and has done much to preserve historic logging locomotives.

Here's a photo from exactly one year ago today. Dixiana has Confederate flags while Tuolumne sports the red, white & blue during the annual Civil War gathering.

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

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Thanks for those historic images. The 50th anniversary of the RC&BT was this past April 3. The "Dixiana" also reached a milestone birthday last fall as she was built by Lima in October 1912. She has now spent more of her career in Felton than at the six previous owners combined. The Dixiana is seen in three contemporary views in Felton, CA.

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Actually, the Dixianna Shay arrived at Felton on October 13, 1962. She was unloaded from the S.P. flatcar a week later, on October 20, 1962. By October 27, 1962, she was stripped down to the frame, being re-built and converted from a coal-burner to an oil burning locomotive.

Brian,

If you look this is a Southern Railway flat car, not an SP car. This makes sense given where the Dixiana was shipped from.

Martin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/13 15:06 by LoggerHogger.

Those damn Southern cars throw me off every time! Back to the Dixiana Shay. After months of work, the first fire was lit at Midnight on March 13, 1963 for testing. On March 16, 1963 the locomotive operated out over the line for a series of trial runs. It ran minus boiler lagging, jacket, brakes, steps, footboards, pilots, and many other items.

Great photos, great operation - thank you for posting. Here's one of mine from 2011.

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Love the framing of the tree branch in your shot . . !

Craig