Steam & Excursion > This Trip Bid Goodbye To This Impressive Line 70 Years Ago Today!

The Hetch-Hetchy Railroad was unique in the way it started with a flurry of activity for a few years then laid dormant for nearly 10 years and then came back to life only to slowly return to near dormancy again for another 10 years. All this was driven by the main purpose for which the line was built, the construction of the O'Shaunessey Dam to fill Hetch-Hetchy Valley with water for San Francisco.

The initial fleet of 6 steam locomotives which included 2 Heislers, one Shay and the rest rod-type engines was mostly sold off after 1925 when the initial dam construction was completed. Only 2-6-2 #5 remained stored at Groveland until 1935 when it too was sold. However the line sprang back to life in 1935 for a couple years being operated by the Sierra RR when the Dam was raised in height.

After 1937 when the dam raising was completed the Hetch-Hetchy RR once again was absent of steam power and only a small gas-mechanical engine and some aging railcars were left to handle the sparse traffic that the line had left.

With abandonment talk in the air a small group of railfans descended on Groveland, California on May 25, 1947 to ride the Hetch-Hetchy one last time before the rails were torn up. These are all photos from that day 70 years ago today.

H-H engine #1171 supplied the power for the trip while the former Sierra Ry Angels Camp coach #6 carried the lucky railfans. The remaining railbuses were spotted at the enginehouse at Groveland for photos including H-H bus #19 shown in the first photo. #19 had just been purchased by railfan Al Rose for $50.

The Hetch-Hetchy railroad was spectacular as it climbed the granite walls of Hetch-Hetchy Valley on the way to Mather a the end of the line. The 2nd photo by L.L. Bonney shows the impressive scenery on this railroad.

Sadly this scenic railroad was completely gone by the end of 1948 and trips like this one 70 years ago were no longer possible.

Martin

P.S. Today Al Rose's H-H bus #19 and Coach #6 are stored on display at Jamestown, California in the Sierra Ry roundhouse.



Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/17 03:54 by LoggerHogger.

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Was a narrow gauge railroad used to build the HH dam. If so were the locomotives and rolling stock abandoned in place and covered by the lake.