Steam & Excursion > An Early View Of This Steam Railroad That Became An Institution!

For over 50 years now the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge RR has treated visitors to steam railroading on steep grades through the redwoods out of Felton, California.  Here is a very early view of that line soon after it started operation.

The location is the original RC&BT depot in Felton.  Power for this early train is the recently arrived 2-truck Heisler #3 from the West Side Lumber Co. of Tuolumne, California.  Originally built as a 3' gauge Heisler, #3 was converted to standard gauge by the West Side in 1947 to operate as the mill switch engine.  Thai lasted until October, 1963 when #3 was out of a job after the West Side shut down.  It was then that RC&BT founder Norman Clark bought her to be his second locomotive on his newly formed RC&BT.

By the time this photo was taken, #3 had be reguaged back to 3' using an old pair of Heisler trucks purchased by Clark from the West Side.  From these early beginnings, the RC&BT has become one of the "must see" steam railroads in this country. 

As for the #3, today she is still in service pulling trains up the 6% grades into the redwoods just as Mr. Clark had intended when he first envisioned creating this wonderful railroad.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/19 04:22 by LoggerHogger.

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It's interesting to see a picture of the operation from back then.  The building with the porch and water tank is gone (or moved).  The little station building with the big windows is still there.
When I first visited in the late 60's or early 70's they had already moved their boarding and operations to the new location.

6%? What is the reverse move up the switchback, 11%? Great picture, and as mentioned a lot has changed,
the facilities, the route around the burned out bridge, but thankfully it's still running and a hoot to ride.

Out

The building with the porch is the South Pacific Coast's freight depot.  I double-checked on Google maps and it looks like it's still there.  The other building is the SPC passenger depot.  RC&BTNGRR uses it for offices now.

Jim Maurer