For more info or to book your trip call 5302424122 or 7072872939. Trainweb hosted web sites featuring railroad history. For the next 105 years, the railroad would join hands with the lumber mill and breath life into the community. Get away from it all spend your vacation at a historic mccloud hotel resting in the heart of a historic mill town, the mccloud mercantile hotel is the ideal destination for your next vacation. The locomotive was purchased new by the mccloud river railway company in 1914 as a standalone purchase. The mccloud river railroad survived through ninety five and a half sometimes turbulent years, in the process becoming an. A lack of suitable transportation limited the success of most early lumber operators that attempted to establish sawmill operations. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. At around the same period, the timber industry all but departed from the mccloud river country, removing the primary freight traffic from the railroad. The mccloud river railroads by jeff moore hardcover 2016. Mccloud river railroad company, mccloud river lumber. The northeastern corner of california is dominated by the 14,162 tall peak of mt. The next seven decades saw the railroad and the affiliated mccloud river lumber company carve hundreds of miles of railroad into the pine forests east of mccloud.
Strike at mccloud, june 1909 california state military museum. Nestled on the southeastern flank of the mountain is the small former company town of mccloud. The line was chartered on january 22, 1897 and eventually grew into a 115mile system, which moved a variety of freight. It was restored to operation in mccloud during 1998, and operated there until it was sold in 2005 to virginia and. A history of the mccloud river railroad, a logging railroad at the base of mt. Strike at mccloud, june 1909 california state military. Riots, protests, and other civil disturbances strike at mccloud, june 1909. Scott and william vanarsdale, founders of the mccloud river railroad company. Abandoned railroads train web railroad information. Shasta incorporating much of the history of the lumbering industry in siskiyou county, ca. The company used the following locomotives on that narrow guage system. The mccloud river railroads by jeff moore hardcover.
Mont saint michel and chartres is a book written by the american historian and scholar henry adams 18381918. History built in 1903 by the mccloud river lumber company, our building was originally used by the lumber company, the town bank, and the local telephone switchboard for mccloud. Yard limits date to mccloud river railroad operations. But as the available timber harvest declined, the lumber company and its railroad were sold to united states plywood in 1963. The spider web of the railroad grew fast, extending to the old george operation, to the ash creek mill, to bartle, as well as connecting with the mainline. A roster of 90ton baldwin mikes used in north america. The mccloud river railroad, a freelanced version of the northern california shortline in august 1969 and includes a ridealong story with a brief history of the prototypical railroad. I did, however, happen to notice that there is still some equipment sitting in mccloud, ca. The history of the mccloud river rainbow world transportation.
Burlington route, santa fe, milwaukee road, and northern pacific. Encyclopedia of western railroad history volume iv california. Open from memorial day weekend to the end of september, weather permitting. We welcome you to take a look back to its timber and railroad beginnings and forward to what the future may hold for this historic lumber community as we move into the 21st century. Mccloud river railroad the cinetrains project trains. The mccloud railway reporting mark mcr was a class iii railroad operated around mount. Full day eight hours of guided fly fishing and instruction with bottled water provided. Since 1897 mccloud has been the base of operations for an independent shortline railroad company, originally known as the mccloud river railroad company. The great shasta rail trail group is starting studies to replace the remaining railroad with an expansion of their trail, but they have to either. The following year, the mccloud river railroad company was begun by.
The following year, the mccloud river railroad company was begun by the same owners. The mccloud railway reporting mark mcr was a class iii railroad operated around mount shasta, california. Vast stands of pines form as a silent army with each individual containing rings marking the years of history. Rails around mccloud images of rail series by jeff moore. Stitching the landscape, traveling through the trees are the remnants of. The best book that covers the history of the mccloud river rr operations is this one. The mccloud river railroad established its operational headquarters in the town in 1897. Leasing company itel purchased a number of shortline railroads in the late 1970s, including the mccloud river railroad. The mcr was originally built as the mccloud river railroad chartered on january 22, 1897, as a forest railway bringing. The railroad made it economically feasible to transport the lumber to more.
Over 295 photographs and illustrations, including maps, timetables, documentary reproductions, rosters of motive power, etc. Mccloud river railroad company, mccloud river lumber company. The suite blends contemporary fixtures like wifi, a flat screen tv, and a jacuzzi tub. For example, the shasta wintu suite is themed after the local native american tribe, the wintu. We welcome you to take a look back to its timber and railroad beginnings and forward to what the future may hold for this historic. On january 21, 1897, the backers of the mccloud river lumber company incorporated the mccloud river railroad company to assume construction and operation of a railroad started the previous year projected to connect its sawmill on the southeast flank of californias mt. Deck plate girder bridge over lake britton on mccloud river railroad location shasta county, california status closed to traffic future prospects slated to become a railtrail history built 1955 railroad mccloud river railroad mcr design deck plate girder dimensions total length. A detailed history of the railroad built for mccloud country logging, 1894 to 2016, with rosters, service history, and thorough photo coverage. Mccloud river railroad, mccloud railway company, mccloud. Ry bates mccloud river railroad in trackside model. The mccloud river railroad was a historic shortline that dated to 1897 and once served mt.
Each of the twelve rooms have a unique theme to encapsulate an aspect of mcclouds rich history. Harriman and built to american standards by imperial japan, the south manchuria railway introduced modern railroading to the orient. One mile from the junction with the burney main line at berry siding, mccloud 37 tackles a short stretch of 4 percent with the sierra pacific loads in tow, cresting the grade at a spot known to crews as rattlesnake cut. The history and operation of the mccloud river logging railroad. After negotiations with the mccloud railroad a price was agreed upon and plans to move the engine from mccloud, its. January 21, 1897 marked the birthday of the mccloud river railroad. The next seven decades saw the railroad and the affiliated mccloud river lumber company carve hundreds of miles of railroad into the pine forests and lava beds east of mccloud, eventually reaching as far as lookout to the east and the burney basin to the south. Some of those lines primarily served as lessors of incentive per diem or ipd box cars as did the mccloud, but the large, wellequipped railroad shop at mccloud was an additional attraction for the leasing company. The who, what, where, why, when, and how are all very well covered throughout the entire existence of the mccloud railway in its various incarnations. The line was chartered on january 22, 1897 and eventually grew. Railroad logging in the klamath country by jack bowden.
Mccloud river railroad history great shasta rail trail. Mccloud heritage junction museum community museum mccloud. The huge mccloud river lumber company sawmill was built to the east of the railroad facilities. Surrounded by old growth forest, surreal rivers, lakes, and a towering snowcapped mountain. An official, 1957 system map of the mccloud river railroad. When she was released for service by the up in late 1997, the locomotive became up 2824. Mccloud rails in print books and magazine articles ive written. She was purchased, along with 3 other locomotives of her type. From its inception,into the 1950s, the mccloud lumber mill was busy, and contributed steady. Evident to any visitor to mccloud is the expansive forest surrounding and encroaching upon the city.
The mccloud river railroad eked out a living hauling lumber, diatomaceous earth, and occasional tourists until 1992, when the new mccloud railway company purchased the property. During the years the baird mccloud river hatch house was closed either due to the mccloud floods or the railroad blasting up the sacramento canyon and cutting off the sacramento river for as many as 5 years, thus not allowing the salmon the ability to make it up the river. The lovely mccloud river emptying out into the pit river on a bend that must of held so many species of fish, now all gone because of shasta. Mccloud river fly fishing guide trips northern california. One quiet morning in august 1917, five gun shots were heard in rapid succession, and two men were seen running from the bank. She was purchased new from the american locomotive company in 1925 and carries the builder number 66435. Rogers, alco, baldwin, burlington route shop forces operated on. A number of small operators were already in the area, though limited by inadequate transportation, when the mccloud river lumber company was incorporated in 1896. Built in 1903 by the mccloud river lumber company, our building was originally used by the lumber company, the town bank, and the local telephone switchboard for mccloud. The outfit that bought the mccloud sawmill site thinks they might be able to get enough industry going one day to warrant opening the line back up, but havent been able to negotiate anything yet. Dec 20, 2017 the mccloud river railroad, a freelanced version of the northern california shortline in august 1969 and includes a ridealong story with a brief history of the prototypical railroad. A mccloud river railroad engineer takes a fond look at baldwins 90ton mikados. I have several hundred railroad books in my library, and have read at lest twice as many, and honestly this is one of the best. Mccloud was a classic company town from 1897 until 1963, when.
The town of mccloud is proud of its varied and fascinating history. It began operations on july 1, 1992 when it took over operations from the mccloud river railroad. The unit stayed on the mccloud river until 1997, when the unit was traded to the union pacific railroad in exchange for 5 end cab switchers. Mccloud river railroads from karens books trains, railroad. Does anyone know if this equipment has already been sold and i. Toward the end of may 1909, in the town of mccloud, siskiyou county, a controversy between the mccloud river lumber company and about 700 of its employees, nearly all of whom,were foreign born, developed into a strike which threatened to become serious. From its inception,into the 1950s, the mccloud lumber mill was busy, and contributed steady traffic to the railroad.
Mccloud river railroad the cinetrains project trains in. The us government moved the operation up to the clackamas river in oregon to supply everyone who wanted trout and salmon when the baird hatchery was closed due to a high river or blasting by the railroad. The author has done a very through job in his research and the text covers the entire history in through detail while remaining enjoyable and easy to read. This is one of the most well written and produced railroad history books out i have read.
Posts navigation the cinetrains project trains in the. One quiet morning in august 1917, five gun shots were heard in rapid succession, and. The mccloud river survived many ups and down for 95 years before disappearing at the end of june in 1992. Train, railroad, transportation books from karens books. Adams wrote this book, a meditative reflection on medieval culture, well after his historical masterpiece, the history of the united states of. The mccloud has been defunct since 2009 and last i heard its being steadily dismantled. Mccloud river lumber company the upper reaches of mccloud river were thickly timbered with vast stands of ponderosa and sugar pine trees, among other species. It closed in 2009 although a segment is now operated as the mccloud railway. A winter morning on the old mccloud railway near mt shasta, ca. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. West side lumber and other california logging railroads.
News developments and happenings related to the mccloud railroads. The mccloud river survived many ups and down for 95 years before disappearing at the end. The mccloud river railroad became one of the states most well known lines. The boom in ipd boxcar leasing was lucrative for a time, but virtually collapsed by 1981. Built in 1896, the mccloud mercantile hotel teems with history. Jun 18, 2014 a winter morning on the old mccloud railway near mt shasta, ca. Californias mccloud river railroad the history and operation of the mccloud river logging railroad. Up until 1969 the mccloud river lumber company operated an extensive narrow 28inch gauge railroad system that was used to move lumber around within the massive mccloud mill complex. The book contains detailed chapters on the history of the different.
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