Steam & Excursion > Unfortunately This Lines Engines Were Usually Only Filmed Parked!

There were some steam lines that were long gone before the coming of railfans in the early 1930's.  Then there were others that, due to the Depression and other factors shut down just before the camera-wielding railfans came to visit.  In the case of these lines most all of the photos that we have of their motive power is it parked waiting for sale to other lines.

One such railroad was the San Joaquin & Eastern of Awberry, California.  This  56-mile long line built in 1912 had an upper division above Auberry where the grades were too steep for conventional rod-type engines.  It was on this section of the line that the SJ&E operated a fleet of 2 and 3-truck Climax Locomotives like #110 pictured here at Auberry in November 1934.

The lower division of the SJ&E between Auberry and El Prado is where a small fleet of rod engines operated due to the lessor grades found there.

The main reason for the construction of the SJ&E was to build the Big Creek Dam that was a project of Pacific Light & Power to send electricity to Southern California.  While passengers and other freight was carried over the line, when the dam was completed in 1933 the line was shut down.

The fact that the line was abandoned just as the railfan movement was begun coupled with the relatively remote shop facilities at Auberry, meant that the few photos of the motive power and rolling stock of the SJ&E was taken while it was parked in the Auberry yards awaiting new owners.  Very few operational photos of the line exist except for a few shot by professional photographers working on the power project.

We are lucky that a few intrepid railfans ventured up to Awberry to get even roster shots of the unique geared engines used by this common carrier line.  L.L. Bonney was one such railfan and he can be thanked for this fine early shot of SJ&E #110 seen here.

Martin



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/17 07:08 by LoggerHogger.

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I believe you mean "Auberry" not "Awberry". Great photo. The SJ&E was a fascinating operation. 

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There were some steam lines that were long gone
> before the coming of railfans in the early
> 1930's.  Then there were others that, due to the
> Depression and other factors shut down just before
> the camera-wielding railfans came to visit.  In
> the case of these lines most all of the photos
> that we have of their motive power is it parked
> waiting for sale to other lines.
>
> One such railroad was the San Joaquin & Eastern of
> Awberry, California.  This  56-mile long line
> built in 1912 had an upper division above Awberry
> where the grades were too steep for conventional
> rod-type engines.  It was on this section of the
> line that the SJ&E operated a fleet of 2 and
> 3-truck Climax Locomotives like #110 pictured here
> at Awberry in November 1934.
>
> The lower division of the SJ&E between Awberry and
> El Prado is where a small fleet of rod engines
> operated due to the lessor grades found there.
>
> The main reason for the construction of the SJ&E
> was to build the Big Creek Dam that was a project
> of Pacific Light & Power to send electricity to
> Southern California.  While passengers and other
> freight was carried over the line, when the dam
> was completed in 1933 the line was shut down.
>
> The fact that the line was abandoned just as the
> railfan movement was begun coupled with the
> relatively remote shop facilities at Awberry,
> meant that the few photos of the motive power and
> rolling stock of the SJ&E was taken while it was
> parked in the Awberry yards awaiting new owners. 
> Very few operational photos of the line exist
> except for a few shot by professional
> photographers working on the power project.
>
> We are lucky that a few intrepid railfans ventured
> up to Awberry to get even roster shots of the
> unique geared engines used by this common carrier
> line.  L.L. Bonney was one such railfan and he
> can be thanked for this fine early shot of SJ&E
> #110 seen here.
>
> Martin

Matt Starman
Greenleaf, ID

Yah, it was real easy to chase, assuming you had a helicopter which hadn't been invented yet!

Out

The yard was at Auberry, which is about 20 miles northeast of Fresno, California. There are quite a number of photos available in local museums of the SJ&E yard as well as operations. Our mountain cabin is in a place that had its own SJ&E station -- Camp Sierra (originally Carlson). It is a couple of miles down line, and down canyon, from the railroad terminus at Big Creek (originally Cascada). The railroad was amazing. Constructed through steep foothills and mountain wilderness with rugged, heavily timbered slopes, the entire 56-mile railroad required only 156 days to construct in 1912. It was abandoned in 1933. The SJ&E did haul local freight (mostly logging related and some cattle) and passengers. Its primary purpose was as the supply line for early construction of the Big Creek hydroelectric project. Much of the line between Auberry and Big Creek can be driven, albeit slowly, in dry weather. It is incredibly scenic.

Randy McFarland
Kingsburg (and Camp Sierra), California