Steam & Excursion > This Certainly Was Not The Easiest Place To Be Laying Track!

The process of constructing any railroad was always one of back-breaking physical labor.  In some locations, as we see here the process added an element of danger for the crews given the location of the new track.

In this view we see an early Western Pacific track crew laying track across a newly built trestle in the Feather River Canyon.  Needless to say, with no walkway on this wooden trestle, the track crew had to watch their step while performing their tasks.

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/18 03:08 by LoggerHogger.

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Pre-OSHA, obviously!   :-)

Gordon

Such a neat shot.  Pretty sure this is Clio.  It is one of the interesting aspects of the WP to me that when built there were several large wooden trestles that were soon replaced by steel trestles or with fills (Williams Loop is one location that transformed quite dramatically).

The bunk car in the photo is very similar to one that is preserved at the WP Museum in Portola.  The builders of the railroad appear to have converted old truss rod flatcars into these bunk and support cars.

Also looks like there is a steam engine in there.  The WP leased several engines from the Rio Grande, Boca and Loyalton and the Northern Electric.  If this is indeed Clio, it is likely this is a B&L engine.

Thanks for posting!

Z

I think this bridge is just east of Blairsden and is now gone, the railroad put in a new curve on a fill and actually go around this location. If it was Clio the Sierra Valley RR right of way would be visible below the bridge, it was still running when construction was taking place.

Note the RR worker standing right on the edge of the trestle.  No safety harness, no hand rail---just a long drop off behind him...

How about the viaduct just east of Quincy Jct?

Could it be a tie gang of some sort?  At least 3 cars full of old ties in the train.


Nudge

Construction of the wooden trestle itself must have been hazardous.  Neat shot from your acrchives, Martin.

If you're the foreman and don't get along.....don't turn your back.   

It reminds me of the images of high steel workers in NY from that era. Were people just more aware of their own safety back then or did they have better balance? If you did that now (assuming no safety laws) you would have a huge mortality rate. Back then I assume more people died but it clearly could not have been a high percentage or things lile safety harnesses would have been invented sooner.