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Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Destination4x4

Explorers of the Mojave Desert in southern California are bound to have heard the stories of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. The Tonopah and Tidewater flanks the western edge of the Mohave National Preserve as travels south to north from Ludlow, California to Beatty, Nevada and up to Tonopah, Nevada utilizing the Bullfrog Goldfield Railroad. Many of the off ramps, sites and historic monuments along Interstate 15 are associated with the standard gauge railroad.

More details
Tonopah & Tidewater #1 was a Baldwin 4-6-0 steam locomotive, originally built for the Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad, later going to the Randsburg Railway on the Santa Fe as their #1 (later #260). Went to the T&T in 1904 and used in passenger and shunting service. It was scrapped in 1941, and the bell was saved by the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society at Pomona, CA. — More details Tonopah & Tidewater #1 was a Baldwin 4-6-0 steam locomotive, originally built for the Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad, later going to the Randsburg Railway on the Santa Fe as their #1 (later #260). Went to the T&T in 1904 and used in passenger and shunting service. It was scrapped in 1941, and the bell was saved by the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society at Pomona, CA.

History

In the early 1900’s, owner of the Pacific Coast Borax Works, Francis Marion Smith owned the largest Borax mine in the world, which is located in Borate, CA. Corporate expansion found him looking into old Borax claims located in the Black Mountains, east of Death Valley. Originally, “Borax” smith used a steam tractor to haul the ore one hundred and thirty seven miles into Ivanpah, CA. The harsh desert proved too much and the plan is soon abandoned.

In 1904, Smith conceived a plan to connect a railroad from his mines to the nearest points of the Santa Fe. He hoped to connect up north to Tonopah to exploit a mining boom in the region, which include Rhyolite, Goldfield and Beatty Nevada. On July 19, 1904, Francis Marion Smith had incorporated the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad Company in New Jersey. Smith served as president, and associates DeWitt Van Buskirk as vice-president with C.B. Zabriskie as secretary-treasurer, and John Ryan as superintendent and general manager.

Originally, Smith worked with William A. Clark who was a Senator from Montana. Clark headed the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad and proposed that Smith build the Tonopah and Tidewater out of Las Vegas as a cost effective solution to haul his Borax. In 1905, Smith sent personnel and soon discovered that he would not be allow to connect to the Los Angles and Salt Lake Railroad. This right of way is probably due to the fact that Clark is planning his own rail to Beatty, which would become the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad.

Following this disappoint, Borax Smith sold his assets and holdings after negotiating with Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and settings up a terminus is Ludlow, CA.

Tonopah and Tidewater Route

The Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad covered a distance of approximately 230 miles, traversing the challenging terrain of the Mojave Desert.. Many stops along the railroad were named for associates of Borax Businessman Francis Marion Smith. Sections of the route runs through the Death Valley National Park, and certain sections of it have been made into hiking trails for tourists. Other parts of the route are easily accessible to back road explorers, and much of the former railroad bed parallels California State Route 127 between Baker and Death Valley Junction, California.

Tonopah and Tidewater Routes and Stops

More details
Originally a Deleware, Lackwanna & Western locomotive numbered #671, was sold to the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad around 1906, and supposedly became either their #2 or #3. Later sold to the Goldfield Consolidated Mining Co.in 1910 and became their #2. — More details Originally a Deleware, Lackwanna & Western locomotive numbered #671, was sold to the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad around 1906, and supposedly became either their #2 or #3. Later sold to the Goldfield Consolidated Mining Co.in 1910 and became their #2.

Ludlow
Broadwell – ( 12.68 Miles )
Mesquite – ( 21.49 Miles )
Crucero – ( 25.68 Miles )
Rasor – ( 29.38 Miles )
Soda Lake ( ZZYZX ) – ( 33.34 Miles )
Baker – ( 41.82 Miles )
Silver Lake – ( 49.50 Miles )
Talc – ( 56.0 Miles )
Riggs – ( 59.47 Miles )
Lore – ( 60.0 Miles )
Valjean – ( 65.11 Miles )
Dumont – ( 74.40 Miles )
Sperry – ( 78.84 Miles )
Acme – ( 82.97 Miles )
Tecopa – ( 87.67 Miles )
Zabriskie – ( 91.74 Miles )
Shoshone – ( 96.95 Miles )
Fitrol Spur – ( 97.5 Miles )
Gerstley – ( 101.26 Miles )
Jay – ( 106.00 Miles )
Death Valley Junction – ( 122.01 Miles )
Bradford Siding – ( 128.01 Miles )
Muck – ( 131.0 Miles )
Jenifer – ( 139.44 Miles )
Leeland – ( 144.51 Miles )
Ashton – ( 154.98 Miles )
Carrara – ( 160.55 Miles )
Post – ( 166.0 Miles )
Gold Center – ( 166.0 Miles )
Beatty Junction – ( 169.07 Miles )
Beatty – ( 169.07 Miles )

More details
Map showing Tonopah Tidewater Railroad Company line from Ludlow California to Goldfield Nevada circa 1907 — More details Map showing Tonopah Tidewater Railroad Company line from Ludlow California to Goldfield Nevada circa 1907

Railroad Summary

Name	Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad
Location	San Bernardino, California Nye County, Nevada
Gauge	Standard Gauge – 4 feet 8.5 inches (1,435 mm)
Operational	1904 – 1940

References

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Francis Marion Smith – “Borax Smith”

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Rhyolite Train Depot

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The Arargosa Opera House is located in Death Valley Junction, California.

The Amargosa Opera House

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Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad

Explorers of the Mojave Desert in southern California are bound to have heard the stories of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. The Tonopah and Tidewater…

Grand Canyon Railroad

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Destination4x4

The Grand Canyon Railroad is a 64 miles railroad which connects Williams Arizona to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The original 64 mile route was built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway company in order to construct and promote the Grand Canyon Village. The railroad was completed on September 17th, 1901. in 1901 a ticket could be purchase for the sum of $3.95.

First Train to Carry Passengers all the way to Grand Canyon Village.
SEPT. 17, 1901. Photo By G.L. ROSE. — First Train to Carry Passengers all the way to Grand Canyon Village. SEPT. 17, 1901. Photo By G.L. ROSE.

The El Tovar Hotel is completed in Janurary, 1905. The hotel is constructed by the Santa Fe Railway to accommodate train passengers and uniquely located just 20 feet from the Canyon Rim. The initial success of this railroad is diminished with the widespread adaptation of the automobile and the highway system. Passenger Service is halted in July 1968 and later freight service is halted in 1974.

In 1988, the line is purchased by Max and Thelma Biegert, who restored the railroad and started operations in 1989. The Biegerts made their fortune in Nevada, operated the line until 2006 when the railroad was again sold to Xanterra Travel Collection. Today, the railroad offers both diesel and steam engine service and operates as a Heritage Railway and gives the passenger a brief means of enjoying a by gone era.

The Polar Express

Every winter, following the release of the Christmas classic movie the Polar Express, the Grand Canyon Railway’s offers a special train serice, the Polar Express. The Polar Express is a 90 minute journey from the nighttime wilderness of Williams, Arizona, to “the North Pole”. During the journey, passengers are encouraged to sing and treated with hot chocolate and a reindeer bell.

Grand Canyon Railroad Map

Grand Canyon Railroad Summary

Name	Grand Canyon Railroad
Location	Coconino County, Arizona Grand Canyon National Park
Years of Operation	September 17th, 1901 – Current
Gauge	Standard Gauge – 4 feet 8.5 inches (1,435 mm)
National Register of Historic Places	00000319

References

TheTrain.com

Bodie and Benton Railway

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Destination4x4

The Bodie and Benton Railway operated for about thirty eights years, supplying the town of Bodie, California. The narrow gauge railroad travelled north, from the forests south of Lake Mead up to the townsite of Bodie.

Bodie Railroad Station, Bodie State Historic Park, Bodie, Mono County, CA. Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress) - DeHaas, John N, Jr, photographer — Bodie Railroad Station, Bodie State Historic Park, Bodie, Mono County, CA. Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress) – DeHaas, John N, Jr, photographer

The Bodie Railway and Lumber Company was founded on February 19th, 1881. The business plan called for supplying the town is lumber for building and firewood for heat against the harsh high altitude winters. Steam Engines, which powered the town, also burnt this valuable supply of fuel.

The lumber was collected from the Inyo National Forest south of Mono Lake. At the Mono Mills, the lumber is loaded onto flat cars before being hauled up to Bodie and Warm Springs and Line Kiln. The Mono Mills are capable of processing 80,000 board-feet of lumber in every 10 hours of operation.

Bodie Railway and Lumber Company Locomotive. Photo courtesy of McDonnell sisters.

The thirty one mile route up to Bodie also featured a two thousand foot elevation gain. The allow the rail to climb this grade, two switch backs are included in the route. The Bodie and Benton Railway is closed on September 7th, 1918. The need for a ready supply of fuel is diminished the a Hydroelectric Power Plant is constructed in Green Creek. The rail is abandoned and sold for scrap.

Today, there is little evidence of the railroad. An abandoned railcar was discovered and is now on display at the June Lake Marina.

“The Mono,” the Bodie to Benton railroad locomotive. Photo courtesy of the Mono Basin Historical Society.

Bodie and Benton Railway Map

Bodie and Benton Railway Summary

Name	Bodie and Benton Railway
Also Known As	Mono Railway
Location	Mono County, California
Length	31 miles
Gage	Narrow Gauge – 3 feet (914 mm)
Operations	February 19th, 1881 – September 7th, 1918

References

Death Valley Railroad

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Destination4x4

The Death Valley Railroad (DVRR) was a historic 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge railroad that once operated in Death Valley. Built primarily to support mining operations in the remote and harsh terrains of the Death Valley region, it played a crucial role in the economic development of the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The line started in Death Valley Junction, CA and followed the modern California State Route 190 down the the mining camp of Ryan.

Locomotive No 1 Engine, Death Valley Railroad

Early Days and Construction

The idea of constructing a railroad in the inhospitable terrain of Death Valley emerged during the late 19th century with the discovery of various valuable mineral deposits. Initially, the isolated mining communities were heavily dependent on mule teams and wagons for transportation, which was both slow and inefficient.

In 1904, the Pacific Coast Borax Company, recognizing the need for a more efficient transportation system, began the construction of the Death Valley Railroad. The railway was intended to connect the mining towns of Ryan, near Death Valley, to the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, which served the wider region.

A map of the Death Valley Railroad running from Death Valley Junction all the way up to the mines at Ryan near Colemanite

Development and Operations

The construction of the railroad faced immense challenges due to the rugged landscape, extreme weather conditions, and the scarcity of resources in the area. The laborers encountered difficulties such as intense heat, lack of water, and treacherous terrain, but despite these challenges, the construction continued.

By 1914, the DVRR was fully operational, enabling the efficient transportation of borax, gold, silver, and other minerals from the mines to the broader market. The railroad significantly reduced transportation costs and facilitated the growth of mining operations in the area.

DVRR self propelled gasoline powered Brill Car

One train ran each day delivering food and water to the workers at the Ryan mine in the mourning. The same train bought ore back late in the afternoon. After better deposits of borax were discovered at Boron, the Death Valley Railroad tried to resort to tourist operations by bringing in a Brill railcar to transport tourists to the old mines which made up Furnace Creek. A Brill car is a self propelled gasoline rail vehicle.

California State Route 190 roughly follows the route of this railroad.

Decline and Closure

Eventually, with the Great Depression of the 1930s and the increased usage of automobiles and trucks for transportation. The narrow gage D V R R ceased its operations in 1931. The tracks were removed, and much of the equipment was sold off or abandoned, marking the end of an era for the railroad and the mining communities it had served.

Although the Death Valley Railroad’s existence was relatively short-lived, it played a pivotal role in the development of the Death Valley region, contributing significantly to the growth of the mining industry and the economic prosperity of the local communities during its operation. Today, remnants of the railroad’s route can still be found in the Death Valley National Park, serving as a testament to its historical significance and the challenges faced by early industrial pioneers in this unforgiving landscape.

Baby Gage Railroad, Old Borax Mine, Ryan Death Valley, California

D V R R tracks near Death Valley Junction, California — Baby Gage Railroad, Old Borax Mine, Ryan Death Valley, California

Death Valley Railroad Summary

Name	Death Valley Railroad
Location	Nye County, Nevada Death Valley, California
Gage	Narrow Gage, 3 ft (914mm)
Length	25 Miles
Years of Operation	1914 – 1931

Death Valley Railroad Locomotives

Locomotive		Manufacturer	Service
Heisler #2 “Francis”	2-Truck	Stearns Manufacturing Locomotive Works	1899 – 1925
Baldwin DVRR No 1	2-8-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin DVRR No 2	2-8-0	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1916 –

References

Palisade Nevada

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Destination4x4

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

Name	Palisade Nevada
Also Known by	Palisades, 10-Mile Canyon, 12-Mile Canyon
Location	Eureka County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude	40.6102, -116.1986
Elevation	4,850 feet
GNIS	847450
Nevada State Historic Marker No	65
Population	300
Post Office	May 1870 – 1961

Category: Railroad

Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad

History

Tonopah and Tidewater Route

Tonopah and Tidewater Routes and Stops

Railroad Summary

References

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