Steam & Excursion > A Steam Tradition On This Railroad That Was Brought Back!

Starting in 1937, the Sierra Railroad of Jamestown, California ran railfan excursions that were not on the regular timetable and were only for the railroad to make some extra income and give railfans a trip that they could both ride and photograph.  Given the fact that these trips were simply for fun and profit, the railroad decided to attract more attention and run the first such trip as a triple-header.  The idea worked and that first trip was a sold-out success. 

Over the next 18 years the Sierra sponsored many more steam-powered excursions, with several of those being triple-headed with Sierra steam power.  Unfortunately, such railfan excursions ended in 1955 when steam power was retired by the Sierra RR.  It was revived briefly in the early 1960's with the Sierra using it's 2-8-0 #28 on some steam excursions from Jamestown to Tuolumne and back, but even those came to an end in October 1963 when #28 derailed in the Jamestown yards on one of those trips.

Fortunately, the Crocker family that owned the Sierra decided in 1971 to get back into steam powered excursions in a big way when they opened what they called Railtown 1897 at Jamestown and began running excursions, wine and cheese trains and dinner trains, all powered by steam.  On labor day weekend in 1971 the Sierra Railroad ran it's first steam powered triple-header in decades.  Again, it was a sold-out success.

The next year, again on Labor Day weekend the Sierra repeated this special offering an ran another triple-headed steam train this time with #3, #34 and #28 in that running order.  We see that train here on September 3, 1972 in this fine photo taken by Gary Allen. 

What a fine tradition for the Sierra Railroad.  Today the Sierra Ry has #3 and #28 in serviceable condition.  Who knows, maybe someday #34 will be returned to service and this tradition can be revived for generations that missed seeing it before.

Martin



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/19 08:11 by LoggerHogger.

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Was the larges of the three steam engines the trailing unit? 

czuleget Wrote:
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> Was the larges of the three steam engines the
> trailing unit? 

Not on this train.  The 1971 Labor Day triple header was #3 4-6-0, #28 2-8-0 and #34 2-8-2.

They changed the order in 1972 to #3, #34, #28.

Martin

Looking forward to Pete's Sierra charter in November if it happens. 

Interesting consist.   The open end of the observation car, #2901, is against the flat car.  

My assumption is the passenger train was pulled from Jamestown down to the Cooperstown wye, the locomotives were turned, and the consist was coupled together with the addition of several empties headed for the lumber mill at Standard.     Effectively, this was a true mixed train with every car earning revenue for the railroad.

How did photographer Allen get a raised vantage point for the image?   Drones were not yet available.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/19 08:08 by KMiddlebrook.

Martin, that's the 1972 Triple header train.  The 1971 Triple header had no freight equipment.

Brian,

That was a typo.  I fixed it.

Martin

Nice pic, but it is backwards....

Earlk Wrote:
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> Nice pic, but it is backwards....

Earl,

Right you are.

Martin