Borate and Daggett Railroad


More details
Borate & Daggett Rail Road in Mule Canyon on way to Borate – Courtesy National Park Service, Death Valley National Park
More details Borate & Daggett Rail Road in Mule Canyon on way to Borate – Courtesy National Park Service, Death Valley National Park

The Borate and Daggett Railroad, a 3-foot narrow-gauge railway operational from 1898 to 1907 in California’s Mojave Desert, was a critical infrastructure project for the borax industry. Stretching 11 miles from Daggett to the Borate mining camp, it replaced inefficient mule teams, significantly reducing transportation costs for colemanite borax. Built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company under Francis Marion Smith, the railroad featured innovative engineering, including Heisler locomotives and a roasting mill for on-site ore processing. Despite its success, declining ore quality and the discovery of richer deposits elsewhere led to its abandonment in 1907.

Background

Francis Marion "Borax" Smith
Francis Marion “Borax” Smith

The borax industry gained prominence in the late 19th century due to the mineral’s applications in detergents, glass, and metallurgy. In 1883, colemanite deposits were discovered in the Calico Mountains, acquired by William Tell Coleman, who relied on twenty-mule teams to transport borax to railheads. After Coleman’s bankruptcy in 1890, Francis Marion Smith, the “Borax King,” took over, forming the Pacific Coast Borax Company. By 1899, the renamed Borate mine was the world’s largest, producing 22,000 short tons annually. The high cost and slow pace of mule teams necessitated a more efficient transport solution, leading to the railroad’s construction.

Construction and Design

Completed in 1898, the Borate and Daggett Railroad was a 3-foot narrow-gauge line designed to navigate the Calico Mountains’ 7% grades. The 11-mile route connected the Borate mine to Daggett, a Santa Fe mainline hub. Two Heisler steam locomotives, “Marion” and “Francis,” powered the line, leveraging geared drive systems for steep terrain. A roasting mill at the midpoint, named Marion, processed ore into burlap bags, and a third rail facilitated transfers to standard-gauge boxcars. The narrow gauge design and Heisler technology minimized costs while ensuring reliability in the harsh desert environment.

Operations and Economic Contributions

Borate & Daggett Heisler locomotive #2 "Francis" (s/n 1026), at Daggett, California in 1910. The locomotive helped to construct the Death Valley Railroad in 1913, before being sold to the Nevada Short Line Railway in 1916 where it retained its number #2.[4] It ended its days working for the Terry Lumber Company (later Red River) at Round Mountain, California until about 1925.
Borate & Daggett Heisler locomotive #2 “Francis” (s/n 1026), at Daggett, California in 1910. The locomotive helped to construct the Death Valley Railroad in 1913, before being sold to the Nevada Short Line Railway in 1916 where it retained its number #2. It ended its days working for the Terry Lumber Company (later Red River) at Round Mountain, California until about 1925.

From 1898 to 1904, the railroad was integral to the Pacific Coast Borax Company’s operations, transporting large colemanite volumes at lower costs than mule teams. The Marion mill enhanced efficiency by processing ore on-site. The railroad bolstered
Daggett’s role as a regional hub, supporting jobs and infrastructure. However, narrow gauge limitations, such as small train capacities, occasionally constrained output. At its peak, the railroad underpinned Borate’s status as the world’s leading borax mine, driving economic growth in the Mojave Desert.

Decline and Abandonment


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Borate & Daggett Heisler locomotive #1 "Marion" (s/n 1018), at Daggett, California in 1910. It went on to work for the Forest Lumber Company in Oregon until the lumber mill at Pine Ridge burned to the ground in 1939.
More details Borate & Daggett Heisler locomotive #1 “Marion” (s/n 1018), at Daggett, California in 1910. It went on to work for the Forest Lumber Company in Oregon until the lumber mill at Pine Ridge burned to the ground in 1939.

By 1904, Borate’s colemanite quality declined, prompting Smith to focus on richer deposits at the Lila C. Mine in Death Valley. The Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, completed in 1907, served the new mine, rendering the Borate and Daggett Railroad
obsolete. Mining at Borate ceased in 1907, and the railroad was abandoned. Rails were scrapped, and equipment was left in Daggett or repurposed for the Death Valley Railroad. The Heisler locomotives were later sold to the Forest Lumber Company in Oregon until they closed in 1939.

Legacy

The Borate and Daggett Railroad demonstrated the efficacy of narrow-gauge systems for mineral transport, influencing projects like the Death Valley Railroad. Its equipment reuse and documented history, including photographs and railbeds, preserve its legacy . The railroad exemplifies the interplay of technology and economics in the borax industry, highlighting the transient nature of resource-driven infrastructure in the American West.

Borate and Daggett Railroad Summary

NameBorate and Daggett Railroad
LocationMojave Desert, San Bernardino, California
Length11 miles
GageNarrow Gauge – 3 feet (914 mm)
Operational

Borate and Daggett Railroad Map

Palisade Nevada

Located along the banks of the Humboldt River in Eureka County lies the remains of a railroad town critical to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. The townsite was named for Palisade Canyon and located west of town. The narrow canyon is a major barrier in the construction of the railroads. The townsite was plotted in 1868 and served as a train station for the Central Pacific Railroad. Soon the town became a transportation hub which served Mineral Hill, Eureka, Hamilton and other mining camps in the region.

Palisade, Nevada in the 1870's. A busy railroad town. Two separate ox teams can be seen resting in the street. There were scheduled runs of the teams, hauling supplies to mining camps nearby. - Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, (1970), Howell North, p 192, John Zalac collection
Palisade, Nevada in the 1870’s. A busy railroad town. Two separate ox teams can be seen resting in the street. There were scheduled runs of the teams, hauling supplies to mining camps nearby. – Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, (1970), Howell North, p 192, John Zalac collection

A Railroad Town

In May, 1870, the town establishes a Post Office. Shortly thereafter, in 1874, the Eureka and Palisade Railroad in established. Following the formation of this transportation conduit to Eureka, the population of Palisade flourished. By the end of the 1870’s the town boasted commercial stores, houses, two churches, a school along with a multitude of hotels and saloons.

Although the town has a low crime rate and a sheriff, it did maintain the pretext of the wild western town. It is common, when a train arrived, the the residents would stage “gunfights” and “bank robberies” in order to boost tourism. In 1885, the town builds a new train telegraph office and train station, which services both railroads.

Tracks of the Central Pacific Railroad and two story station seen in downtown Palisade. - Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, (1970), Howell North, p 192, John Zalac collection
Tracks of the Central Pacific Railroad and two story station seen in downtown Palisade. – Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, (1970), Howell North, p 192, John Zalac collection

Nearby, the mines in Eureka begin to fail in 1885. As the mines declined so did the railroads, jobs and population.

In 1908, the Western Pacific Railroad travels through the town and serviced Northern Nevada. Following flooding of the Humboldt River in 1910, all three railroads are damaged and the town never recovers to its previous acclaim.

President Hoover Assassination Attempt

Rail Watchman Shot as He Fights 2 Men With Dynamite at Nevada Bridge

Both Suspects Escape

17 Sticks of Explosive are Found on Right of Way

Elko, Nev. November 8, 1932 – What Southern Pacific officials said they believed was an attempt to wreck President Hoover’s special train was frustrated near Palisade, west of here, last night, when a watchman surprised and frightened away two men carrying sticks of dynamite near the railroad right-of-way.

New York Times – November 9, 1932 

Palisade Nevada Map

Palisade Nevada lies along the banks of the Humboldt River just west of Nevada State Route 278. The town site is about 10 miles (16 km) south of Carlin, and about 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Elko.

Nevada State Historic Marker 65

Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.

The Nevada State Historic Marker is located near the intersection of Nevada Route 278 and Palisade Ranch Road.

Located in the tank-like depths of Palisade Canyon, Palisade—first named Palisades—was surveyed and laid out by the Central Pacific Railroad in February 1870.  During the 1870s, it rivaled Elko and Carlin as a departure point on the Central Pacific for wagon, freight, and stage lines to Mineral Hill, Eureka, and Hamilton.

In October 1875, with completion of Eureka and Palisade Railroad, Palisade became the northern terminus and operating headquarters for this little, ninety-mile narrow-gauge line stretching southward to Eureka.  Between 1875 and 1930, the town was the principal transfer and shipping point on the Central Pacific (which later became the Southern Pacific) and on the Western Pacific Railroad after its 1909 completion.

At its peak, the town boasted a population of 300.  It was a self-contained community, and railroading was its business.  There were passenger and freight stations, sidings on both the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads, and a large ore transfer dock between the narrow gauge and standard gauge lines.  All Eureka and Palisade (Eureka-Nevada after 1912) headquarters facilities were situated here.

After the narrow-gauge line ran its last train in September 1938, Palisade went into a long decline.  The post office was finally closed in 1962.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  65
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
NORTHWESTERN NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Town Summary

NamePalisade Nevada
Also Known byPalisades, 10-Mile Canyon, 12-Mile Canyon
LocationEureka County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude40.6102, -116.1986
Elevation4,850 feet
GNIS847450
Nevada State Historic Marker No65
Population300
Post OfficeMay 1870 – 1961

References

Kelso Depot

The story of the westward expansion is the story of the railroads.  Beginning in 1862, the Union Pacific Railroad sought expansion opportunities along the western coast of the United States.  To secure a foothold into California the railroads must cross the Mojave Desert and the depot in Kelso was crucial to accomplish this goal.  Located at the junction of Kelbaker Road and the Kelso Cima Road, the Kelso Depot stands in testimony of the technological progress of the nations trains.

Kelso Depot, Mojave CA
Kelso Depot, Mojave CA

August of 1900, Montana Senator William A. Clark invested in a small Los Angeles based railway which would become the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad.  In 1902, in mine owner made a deal to sell half of the stock to the Union Pacific even before the railway was completed.

William A Clark
William A Clark

In 1905, after 235 miles of track are laid, three warehouse men placed their names in a hat and drew out the winner John Kelso, for whom track siding #16 of the Salt Lake route was named.    Later in 1905, Kelso was just one depot along the Salt Lake Route which now stretched from San Pedro, CA to Salt Lake City Utah.  This new route opened southern California to the Union Pacific Railroad.  In 1921, Union Pacific convinced Senator Clark to sell his remaining shares.

Additionally, in 1905 Senator Clark divested himself of some land in southern Nevada along another rail stop.  This auction is considered the birth of Las Vegas, and Clark Country was named for the man.

San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad locomotive #32, early 1900s
San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad locomotive #32, early 1900s

Built in 1921, The Kelso Depot is architecturally styled as a Mission Revival and just one of several depots along the route which were designated as division points and provided facilities for operations and maintenance purposes.   The buildings original design included a telegraph office, conductor’s room, baggage room, staff dormitories, a billiard room, library and locker. The spring water in the nearby Providence mountains allowed the location to service the steam engines.  Additionally, the relatively steep 2% 2000 foot grade necessitated the use of helper engines by the steam locomotives of the day to crest the Kessler Summit.

Other depot locations

  • Lynndyl, Utah
  • Milford, Utah
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Caliente, Nevada
  • Yermo, California
  • San Bernardino, California

Union Pacific continued to operate the depot from 1921 to 1985.  The depot provided much need infrastructure during World War 2, at which point the facility started a long decline in utility.  Diesel engines improved efficiency and duration allowed the Union Pacific railroad to reduce their personnel requirements.  The 1960’s introduced the second generation of more powerful and efficient diesel engines which eliminated the need for the helper engines.  Combined with the cessation of passenger travel in August, 1964 the Kelso depot is destined to languish on the back roads of history.  The Kelso Depot ceased operations as a train depot in 1962.

The Kelso Depot is currently in use as a Visitors Center of the Mojave National Preserve.

Kelso Depot Trail Map

References

Rhyolite Train Depot

The town of Rhyolite boasted three train services using the Rhyolite Train Depot which is completed in June, 1908. The depot services the Las Vegas & Tonopah, the Tonopah & Tidewater and the Bullfrog-Goldfield train services. The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad started its push to Rhyolite by laying one mile of track per day. Later, the railroad redoubled its efforts and pushed two miles per day its its bid to connect the booming two of Rhyolite with the outside world.

Rhyolite Train Depot is located at the north end of town in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada.  - Photo by James L Rathbun
Rhyolite Train Depot is located at the north end of town in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. – Photo by James L Rathbun

The first train entered Rhyolite at 7:00 pm on December 14th, 1906 bringing another 100 people into the town. Train service to the booming mining town was a big deal. The fact that Rhyolite could lure three train services all but ensured the future of the largest mining town in the state.

In 1907, the Las Vegas & Tidewater line alone hauled 50 freight cars per day into Rhyolite. This volume required a large depot to handle the load. In September 1907, the construction of the depot started by the Las Vegas & Tidewater Railroad. The Mission Revival styled building in constructed with concrete blocks built upon a solid concrete foundation. A gentlemen’s waiting area is located in the east end and a separate ladies waiting room is located in the west end. The ticket office is located in the center of the building and the ticket agents office is located on the second floor.

The train depot takes up an entire city block on Golden Street. The cost on construction was $130,000, or about $3.8 million in 2021.

The train depot in Rhyolite is complete in June 1908. The timing of the complete is ironic in that it coincided with the beginning on the decline of Rhyolite. Within months of completion of the depot, more people were leaving town using the station than arriving. In the first year of operation, the railroad generated a small profit. Between 1909 and 1919 the railroads lost money each year. By 1919, the railroads cut their losses and salvaged the tracks for other projects.

Rhyolite Ghost Casino

The 1920’s offered a brief revival to the town on Rhyolite. Wes Moreland purchase the train depot in 1935 and opened the Rhyolite Ghost Casino in 1937. Drinking and gambling are available on the first floor. The second floor operates as a brothel. The star of World Ware 2 halts the brief rebirth of Rhyolite. The fuel rationing almost completely drained the economy in the area.

In the 1960’s Moreland sister inherited the train depot. Mrs. Herschel Heiser operated a museum and gift shop out of the old station.

At the time it was built, the train depit is claimed to be “The finest in the state.” Today, the train station is one of the best preserved.

Rhyolite Trail Depot Map

Rhyolite Train Depot Marker Text

In keeping with its prominence as a mining center, Rhyolite was serviced by three railroads: the Las Vegas & Tonopah, the Tonopah & Tidewater, and the Bullfrog-Goldfield.

The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad laid one mile of track per day, then two miles of track per day, in its hurry to connect Rhyolite with the outside world. The first train from the Las Vegas & Tonopah entered Rhyolite at 7 p.m. on December 14, 1906, with about 100 passengers.

It was a big deal for a young mining town to be serviced by one railroad, but three railroads were almost unheard of in the history of Nevada. With three railroads, it seemed that Rhyolite was destined to be the largest mining camp in the state and the first few boom years made this prediction look inevitable.

By 1907, the Las Vegas & Tonopah alone was hauling 50 freight cars into town per day. The large volume of freight required a large depot to handle it.

In September 1907, the Las Vegas & Tonopah began building the depot that stands before you. It is constructed of concrete block with a solid concrete foundation in the Mission Revival style. There was a gentlemen’s waiting area on the east end and a ladies’ waiting room on the west end. A separate baggage room was located east of the men’s waiting area. The ticket office was located in the center of the building, and the ticket agent’s quarters were located upstairs.

It was planned to take an entire city block on Golden Street and cost approximately $130,000 – the equivalent of $3,798,393 in 2021.

The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad Depot was completed in June 1908, around the same time that Rhyolite began its slow decline. Within months of its completion, more people were leaving Rhyolite through the depot than were arriving.
The railroad turned a small profit in 1908 but lost money every following year until it was finally dismantled in 1919. The tracks were salvaged, but the depot was left to stand as one of the few remaining buildings from the Rhyolite boom, primarily because it could not be moved elsewhere.

In the 1920s, Rhyolite enjoyed a small revival through tourism. Wes Moreland bought the depot in 1935 and, beginning in 1937, operated it as the Rhyolite Ghost Casino. The drinking and gaming were conducted downstairs, while a different type of hospitality, reportedly staffed by “working women,” was conducted upstairs in the old ticket agent’s quarters.

Like the town before it, the casino had a relatively short life. The onset of World War II, and the associated  Rhyolite Train Depot Markerwar effort, including fuel rationing, completely drained the area’s economy.
By the 1960s, the building had passed to Moreland’s sister, Mrs. Herschel Heisler, who operated the lower floor as a museum and gift shop for tourists.

Since the 1930s, the depot has passed from person to person, eventually ending up with the Barrick Mining Company.
In October 2000, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acquired the depot, along with most of the Rhyolite Townsite, from the mining company in a land swap.

At some time before the swap, a group of local citizens replaced the historic depot roof with modern composite shingles. Although not historically accurate, the shingles have helped preserve the building in the relatively good condition that you see today.

At the time the depot was built, the local newspaper claimed it was “the finest in the state.” Today, it is one of the best-preserved examples of early twentieth-century Mission Revival train depots in Nevada.

The BLM’s Tonopah Field Office is working to restore this historic building. If you would like to donate to the restoration, a secure donation box is located to your right. All donations will be used in Rhyolite.

Please help us keep the depot in its current condition. Report acts of vandalism to the Tonopah Field Office at (775) 482-7800.

Nevada Northern Railway – Nevada State Historic Marker 100

Nevada Northern Railway
Nevada Northern Railway

The Nevada Northern Railway (NN) was established to serve the burgeoning copper mining industry in White Pine County, Nevada, following the discovery of large porphyry copper deposits near Ely in the early 20th century. In 1902, Mark Requa, president of the Eureka & Palisade Railroad, purchased two of the region’s largest mines, including the Robinson Mine. Recognizing the need for efficient transportation to exploit these resources, Requa organized the White Pine Copper Company. Surveys determined that a standard-gauge railroad connecting Ely to the national rail network was the most cost-effective solution, leading to the incorporation of the Nevada Northern Railway on June 1, 1905.

Mark Lawrence Requa
Mark Lawrence Requa

Construction, undertaken by the Utah Construction Company, began on September 11, 1905, starting at Cobre, where the railway connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad, and proceeded southward to Ely. The 140-mile line was completed in just over a year, with the symbolic final spike—crafted from local copper—driven by Requa in Ely on September 29, 1906, celebrated as Railroad Day. A grand ball was held in the unfinished Northern building to mark the occasion.

Expansion and Operations (1907–1941)

In 1907–1908, the railway expanded to support the local mining industry with the construction of the “Ore Line,” a critical trackage network. This included a route bypassing Ely to the north, extending west through Robinson Canyon to the copper mines at Ruth, and the “Hiline” branch east of Ely to Nevada Consolidated’s new copper smelter and concentrator at McGill. The Ore Line became the busiest segment of the Nevada Northern, handling dozens of daily ore trains. As a subsidiary of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, the railway’s primary role was transporting copper ores and products, though it also carried other freight and operated a daily passenger train, known as the Steptoe Valley Flyer, between East Ely and Cobre until 1941.

The railway’s infrastructure, including the East Ely Depot built in 1907 in the Mission Revival style, supported both freight and passenger services. The railway also ran a “school train” for McGill students attending Ely High School until 1941, when passenger services ceased. By 1967, the Nevada Northern reported 40 million net ton-miles of revenue freight across its 162 miles of track.

Decline and Closure (1970s–1983)

The Nevada Northern thrived until the late 1970s, when declining copper prices led to operational challenges. The Nevada Consolidated Copper Company was acquired by the Kennecott Copper Corporation, which managed the railway until the early 1980s. By 1978, the last mine closed, and the McGill smelter shut down in 1983, eliminating the railway’s primary purpose. With no further need for commercial operations, the Nevada Northern ceased as a common-carrier railroad in 1983 after 78 years of service.

Preservation and Museum (1986–Present)

In 1986, Kennecott donated the Ore Line, along with the East Ely yard and shop facilities, to the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, which established the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. The museum operates a heritage railroad on the Ely-to-Ruth and Ely-to-McGill segments, using historic steam and diesel locomotives, including the Nevada State Locomotive #40 (a 4-6-0 built in 1910) and #93 (a 2-8-0 built in 1909). The museum’s collection also includes an electric locomotive, diesel-electric locomotives, and historic freight and passenger cars, all dating to the early 20th century.

The East Ely yard, with over 70 buildings and structures, escaped modernization due to its remote location and the decline of the mining industry, making it one of the best-preserved railroad complexes in the United States. In 2006, the East Ely shops complex was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognized for its completeness and authenticity. The Smithsonian Curator Emeritus described it as the “best preserved, historic railroad bar none.”

The museum offers passenger excursion trains, hands-on experiences like the “Be the Engineer” program, and special events such as the Haunted Ghost Train, Polar Express, and Sunset, Stars, and Champagne Trains. In 2021, a $10 million federal grant was announced to extend the heritage line to McGill, with plans to potentially restore the entire mainline for tourism. The disused Cobre-to-Ely line, acquired by the city of Ely in 2006, remains under consideration for future revival.

Legacy

The Nevada Northern Railway played a pivotal role in Nevada’s copper industry, connecting remote mines to national markets and facilitating economic growth in White Pine County. Today, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum preserves this legacy, offering a living history experience that attracts thousands of visitors annually. Its pristine locomotives, original rolling stock, and well-preserved facilities provide a unique glimpse into the steam railroad era, ensuring the railway’s story endures for future generations.

Nevada State Historic Marker 100

Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.

Most of the markers across the state are large blue metal markers. However, there are a variety of other marker styles out there. For this guide they have been simplified into a few categories (blue, blue small, concrete, and stone). Sometimes, the markers are on buildings, fences, or metal stands.

Mark Requa’s Nevada Consolidated Copper Company laid 150-mile of track from Cobre, on the Southern Pacific line, to Ely in 1905-06 to haul ore from the Copper Flat mines west of Ely.

Ore was loaded into railroad gondolas at Copper Flat for the trip to the smelter at McGill, over a double-track trestle that was 1720 feet long.  The trestle burned in 1922 and was replaced with an earth-fill span.

Passenger service and the “school train” carrying McGill youth to Ely High School ended in 1941.  With the closing of local copper mines in 1983, the railroad ceased operations.  Currently, part of the line serves the Nevada Northern Railway Museum for live steam rides.  The East Ely shop complex for the Railway was listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 2006. 

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  100

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

Nevada State Historic Marker 100 Map

Nevada State Historic Marker 100 Summary

NameNevada Northern Railway
LocationEly, White Pine County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude39.2526, -114.8781
Nevada State Historic Marker 100

References