Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. Trainweb hosted web sites featuring railroad history. The town of mccloud is proud of its varied and fascinating history. Stitching the landscape, traveling through the trees are the remnants of. When she was released for service by the up in late 1997, the locomotive became up 2824. 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. She was purchased, along with 3 other locomotives of her type. A roster of 90ton baldwin mikes used in north america. The best book that covers the history of the mccloud river rr operations is this one.
Since 1897 mccloud has been the base of operations for an independent shortline railroad company, originally known as the mccloud river railroad company. The northeastern corner of california is dominated by the 14,162 tall peak of mt. Rogers, alco, baldwin, burlington route shop forces operated on. 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. The line was chartered on january 22, 1897 and eventually grew. Mccloud river fly fishing guide trips northern california. The book contains detailed chapters on the history of the different. January 21, 1897 marked the birthday of the mccloud river railroad. She was purchased new from the american locomotive company in 1925 and carries the builder number 66435. 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. Mont saint michel and chartres is a book written by the american historian and scholar henry adams 18381918. Full day eight hours of guided fly fishing and instruction with bottled water provided. The mccloud has been defunct since 2009 and last i heard its being steadily dismantled. A mccloud river railroad engineer takes a fond look at baldwins 90ton mikados.
Leasing company itel purchased a number of shortline railroads in the late 1970s, including the mccloud river railroad. Nestled on the southeastern flank of the mountain is the small former company town of mccloud. Mccloud rails in print books and magazine articles ive written. Ry bates mccloud river railroad in trackside model. 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. Mccloud river railroads from karens books trains, railroad. 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. It began operations on july 1, 1992 when it took over operations from the mccloud river railroad. The mccloud river railroad survived through ninety five and a half sometimes turbulent years, in the process becoming an. Riots, protests, and other civil disturbances strike at mccloud, june 1909. 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 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. Jun 18, 2014 a winter morning on the old mccloud railway near mt shasta, ca.
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. The mccloud river railroads by jeff moore hardcover. 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. Mccloud heritage junction museum community museum mccloud. From its inception,into the 1950s, the mccloud lumber mill was busy, and contributed steady. Train, railroad, transportation books from karens books. West side lumber and other california logging railroads. 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. It was restored to operation in mccloud during 1998, and operated there until it was sold in 2005 to virginia and. Burlington route, santa fe, milwaukee road, and northern pacific.
Scott and william vanarsdale, founders of the mccloud river railroad company. 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. News developments and happenings related to the mccloud railroads. Evident to any visitor to mccloud is the expansive forest surrounding and encroaching upon the city. After negotiations with the mccloud railroad a price was agreed upon and plans to move the engine from mccloud, its. 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. Californias mccloud river railroad the history and operation of the mccloud river logging railroad. The huge mccloud river lumber company sawmill was built to the east of the railroad facilities. The suite blends contemporary fixtures like wifi, a flat screen tv, and a jacuzzi tub. A lack of suitable transportation limited the success of most early lumber operators that attempted to establish sawmill operations. Abandoned railroads train web railroad information. The mccloud river railroad established its operational headquarters in the town in 1897. 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. 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.
The boom in ipd boxcar leasing was lucrative for a time, but virtually collapsed by 1981. The mccloud river railroads by jeff moore hardcover 2016. Surrounded by old growth forest, surreal rivers, lakes, and a towering snowcapped mountain. 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. The railroad made it economically feasible to transport the lumber to more. Mccloud river railroad the cinetrains project trains in. A detailed history of the railroad built for mccloud country logging, 1894 to 2016, with rosters, service history, and thorough photo coverage. Open from memorial day weekend to the end of september, weather permitting. Strike at mccloud, june 1909 california state military. 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 following year, the mccloud river railroad company was begun by the same owners. For example, the shasta wintu suite is themed after the local native american tribe, the wintu. 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. One quiet morning in august 1917, five gun shots were heard in rapid succession, and two men were seen running from the bank.
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. The mccloud railway reporting mark mcr was a class iii railroad operated around mount. 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. Harriman and built to american standards by imperial japan, the south manchuria railway introduced modern railroading to the orient. An official, 1957 system map of the mccloud river railroad. 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. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The line was chartered on january 22, 1897 and eventually grew into a 115mile system, which moved a variety of freight. For the next 105 years, the railroad would join hands with the lumber mill and breath life into the community. Rails around mccloud images of rail series by jeff moore. 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. But as the available timber harvest declined, the lumber company and its railroad were sold to united states plywood in 1963. The mccloud river railroad became one of the states most well known lines.
Railroad logging in the klamath country by jack bowden. Encyclopedia of western railroad history volume iv california. One quiet morning in august 1917, five gun shots were heard in rapid succession, and. A history of the mccloud river railroad, a logging railroad at the base of mt. 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. 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. I did, however, happen to notice that there is still some equipment sitting in mccloud, ca. Vast stands of pines form as a silent army with each individual containing rings marking the years of history. Yard limits date to mccloud river railroad operations. Strike at mccloud, june 1909 california state military museum. Over 295 photographs and illustrations, including maps, timetables, documentary reproductions, rosters of motive power, etc. 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. It closed in 2009 although a segment is now operated as the mccloud railway. 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 mccloud river railroad was a historic shortline that dated to 1897 and once served mt. Shasta incorporating much of the history of the lumbering industry in siskiyou county, ca. The history and operation of the mccloud river logging railroad. The following year, the mccloud river railroad company was begun by. Mccloud river railroad company, mccloud river lumber company. This is one of the most well written and produced railroad history books out i have read. The mccloud river survived many ups and down for 95 years before disappearing at the end. 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 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. The history of the mccloud river rainbow world transportation. The mcr was originally built as the mccloud river railroad chartered on january 22, 1897, as a forest railway bringing. For more info or to book your trip call 5302424122 or 7072872939. The mccloud river survived many ups and down for 95 years before disappearing at the end of june in 1992.
The company used the following locomotives on that narrow guage system. The mccloud railway reporting mark mcr was a class iii railroad operated around mount shasta, california. Mccloud was a classic company town from 1897 until 1963, when. Built in 1896, the mccloud mercantile hotel teems with history. The locomotive was purchased new by the mccloud river railway company in 1914 as a standalone purchase. 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. A winter morning on the old mccloud railway near mt shasta, ca. 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.
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