Steam & Excursion > Dual Gauge Track Performing Its Function In Service In July 1958!

With the demise of many narrow gauge railroads by the 1940's, the chance to see dual gauge track in service became increasingly rare out side of Colorado.  An exception was the "Last Of The 3 Foot Loggers", namely the West Side Lumber Co. of Tuolumne, California.

While the West Side logging railroad did not interchange with the Sierra Railway that connected Tuolumne to the outside world, there was still a need for a single set of dual gauge track at the West Side mill.  The West Side had standard gauge track connecting the mill with the Sierra and to allow the loading of standard gauge cars with the mills lumber out put.  This track was separate from any narrow gauge track.

The only place where dual gauge track was used was to allow the West Side's standard gauge switcher to access the fuel, water and sanding facility used by the narrow gauge logging engines.  The dual gauge track allowed the standard gauge switcher to access these services on the lower level for its own servicing and also to reach the top of the facility in order to deliver standard gauge cars of fuel oil and sand to keep the facility stocked..  This upper dual gauge track used one leg of the narrow gauge wye track that was used to turn the West Side's logging locomotives at the end of each log run.

In this fine July 1958 photo by Jim Wren , we see West Side Shay #8 backing up the one dual gauge leg of the Wye as she begins the process of turning herself so she will be ready for the next morning's run into the woods for more logs.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/15 03:32 by LoggerHogger.

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Catching your posts first thing each day is like a history lesson of mainly 'deep in the woods' railroading in the west . . . constantly amazes me of the photo collection you have amassed over the years.

Craig
http://mcmrailvideos.com/

Martin,

I was always impressed with the pis off the DRGW where they went from Std to Narrow. It showed the duel switches and special cars so one engine could switch both gauges.

Thanks for the memories.

Nudge