Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad

The Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad was a twenty three miles long railroad which connected Searchlight, Nevada to Barnwell California and the larger rail network of the Mojave Desert. Between 1907 and 1910, the gold mines of Searchlight produced $7 million dollars in gold and boasted a population of 1,500. Ore is shipped to Barnwell via the Barnwell and Searchlight rail service. In order to reduce costs, the Quartette company constructed a twenty-stamp mill on the Colorado River. The new mill utilized a 15 mile narrow gauge rail is constructed down to the mill in an attempt to further reduce costs. 

Following the discovery of gold in Searchlight in 1897 a gold rush brought industry into the high desert of the Mojave. In 1900, the Quartette Mining Company formed and within a short years a population of 5000 people works the area.

The Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad is formed in April 1906 at the height of the gold rush in Searchlight, Nevada. The twenty three miles of track are laid down between May 1st, 1906 and March 31st, 1907.  On April 7, 1907, just seven days after construction is completed the railway was leased by the California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway

Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad
Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad

By 1919 trains travelled over the B. and S. Railroad only twice a week.  A severe washout on September 23, 1923, halted traffic completely.  Train service was never restored when the track is abandoned February 18, 1924. By this point, the population of Searchlight plummeted to just fifty people. Like many railroads, the valuable track was removed and recycled in other lines across the county.

Today, the rail route is a popular route for Mojave explorers and mountain bikers. The townsite is Juan is located along the route at the base of the Castle Mountains.

Barnwell and Searchlight Railroad

Railroad Summary

NameBarnwell and Searchlight Railroad
LocationSan Bernardino, California
Clark County, Nevada
Length23 miles
GaugeStandard
Date of OperationApril 16, 1906–December 28, 1911

References

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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 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

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

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

NameTonopah and Tidewater Railroad
LocationSan Bernardino, California
Nye County, Nevada
GaugeStandard
Operational1904 – 1940

References

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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.

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Two Gun Bill’s Saloon

Located at stop 3 along the Gold Fever Off Road trail is the supposed location of Two Gun Bill’s Saloon in Holcomb Valley, California. The Gold Fever Off Road Trail is a back country drive by some historical sites in Holcomb Valley, in the San Bernardino Mountains. Holcomb Valley located just west of Big Bear, California is the site of the largest gold rush in Southern California.

The trail head for Two Gun Bill's Saloon along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
The trail head for Two Gun Bill’s Saloon along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California

Two Gun Bill’s Saloon was a famous saloon, dance hall and bordello which offered a place to relax and unwind in the Holcomb Valley during the gold rush. The saloon exists off the wages from a population of about 2000 people during its hey day. The trailhead starts a very short 100 yard hike to the location of a very large cabin which is known to be occupied as late as the 1930s.

The “white lie” which is explained the Gold Fever Trail self guided auto tour pamphlet, is that the cabin at the destination of this hike is not the actual site of the notorious saloon. The actual site of the saloon is found about 1.5 miles to the west, if the south east corner of the junction of 3N16 and 3N12.

Summary

NameTwo Gun Bill’s Saloon
LocationHolcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3055, -116.8970
Gold Fever Orr Road Trail Marker3

Trail Map

Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill

Stop number four along the Gold Fever Off Road Trail is Holcomb Valley, is Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill. The Gold Fever Off Road Trail is a back country drive by some historical sites in Holcomb Valley, in the San Bernardino Mountains. Holcomb Valley located just west of Big Bear, California is the site of the largest gold rush in Southern California.

Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill is stop number four on the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, California.
Jonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill is stop number four on the Gold Fever Off Road Trail in Holcomb Valley, California.

The location marker is the start of a short hike of about 300 yards past mounds of sand and the remains of a water pump. There is nothing remaining of the mill itself.

Located in the “center of activity” was a high piece of ground known as “Chinamen’s Knoll” in Holcomb Valley. Here Tibbetts operated a Pico Steam Engine powered stamp mill. Heavy iron heads rose and fell pulverizing ore from John Bull’s seven mammoth ledges of honeycombed quartz. The sand mound are old tailings from processing of gold ore by the mill.

Grasshopper Quartz Mill Summary

NameJonathon Tibbets Grasshopper Quartz Mill
LocationHolcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3041, -116.8924
Gold Fever Off Road Trail Marker4

Trail Map

References

Gold Mountain Mine – Gold Fever Trail

Located about 10.8 miles from the start of the Gold Fever Off Road Trail, the Gold Mountain mine is an abandoned mine site which overlooks the town site of Doble and Baldwin Lake.

The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, "Lucky Baldwin Mine" overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.
The remains of Gold Mountain Mine, “Lucky Baldwin Mine” overlook the townsite of Doble and Baldwin Lake.

The mine, also known as the “Lucky Baldwin” Mine was the last major gold discovery in the area. In 1873, Barney and Charley Carter were en route to the Rose Mine, when they camped along the north shore of Baldwin Lake. During this trip, Barney climbed the hill to investigate some “shiny stuff” observed from their camp. This “shiny stuff” proved to be a quartz ledge which is rich in gold ore. They Carter Brothers sold their claim, “Carters Quartz Hill” to Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin for the sum on $30,000.00.

The Gold Mountain Mine
The Gold Mountain Mine

Making his own luck, Baldwin had 180 men working the site and running a 40-stamp mill by 1876. The concrete foundations for this mill are visible just to the west of the mine headframe. The mill is operated up until 1923.

In 1875, William F Holcomb returned to the valley, it is said from curiosity and sentimentality. His return allowed him to witness the collapse of the mining camps. Following the collapse, the gold rush started by Holcomb in 1860 became the largest gold rush in Southern California

Mine Summary

NameGold Mountain Mine
Also known asLucky Baldwin Mine,
Carters Quartz Hill
LocationSan Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude34.3026, -116.8291
Gold Fever Off Road Trail Marker No.12

Gold Mountain Trail Map