Boca and Loyalton Railroad facts for kids

The Boca and Loyalton Railroad was a special railway built in northern California. Its main job was to help sawmills in the Sierra Nevada mountains. These sawmills cut down trees to make lumber. Later, this railroad became part of the Western Pacific Railroad, known as its Loyalton branch.

Building the Boca and Loyalton Railroad

Why Was the Railroad Built?

Around 1897, two brothers named Lewis started building a railway. They needed it to connect their sawmill in Sardine Valley to the main Southern Pacific railway line. This main line was part of the very first Transcontinental Railroad that crossed America.

How the Line Grew

The first part of the railway was about 17 miles long. It went from a town called Boca, California to the Lewis brothers' sawmill. After they cut down most of the trees in Sardine Valley, they moved their sawmill to Loyalton, California. So, they extended the railway to Loyalton. This longer line officially became the Boca & Loyalton Railroad on September 24, 1900.

Reaching New Heights

Once the railway reached Loyalton, other lumber companies also built sawmills there. This was because they could now easily ship their lumber. Loyalton was quite high up, at about 4,950 feet (1,509 meters). The trains had to climb over a mountain pass that was 6,300 feet (1,920 meters) high! Then they went down to Boca, which was at 5,534 feet (1,687 meters). The tracks had some very steep sections, like a three percent grade, which means they went up or down three feet for every 100 feet forward.

Becoming Part of a Bigger Railroad

The Boca & Loyalton Railroad soon grew even more. It was extended northwest from Loyalton to towns like Beckwourth and Portola, California. In 1908, a larger company called the Western Pacific Railroad bought the part of the Boca & Loyalton line that went from Portola to Beckwourth. They used this section as part of their own main railway line.

The End of the Original Line

By 1916, most of the trees in the Loyalton area had been cut down. This meant there wasn't as much lumber to ship. Also, the Western Pacific Railroad was now carrying many of the goods that used to go through Loyalton. Because of these changes, the tracks over the mountain summit between Loyalton and Boca were no longer used. The Western Pacific Railroad then took over the line north of Loyalton and called it their Loyalton branch.

Locomotives of the Boca and Loyalton Railroad

The Boca and Loyalton Railroad used several different types of steam locomotives to pull its trains. These powerful machines were essential for moving heavy logs and lumber through the mountains. Some of these locomotives were bought from other railroads, while others were built specifically for the job. For example, some were used to help build the Western Pacific Railroad's main line.

Clover Valley Lumber Company and Its Trains

A New Lumber Company Takes Over

In 1917, a new company called the Clover Valley Lumber Company was formed. This company took over the sawmills in the Loyalton area. They did this because it was getting harder to find timber (trees) nearby.

Operating Their Own Railways

From 1921 until 1957, the Clover Valley Lumber Company operated its own special railway lines. These were called forest railway branches. They were used to reach new areas where trees could be cut down. The company also had its own locomotives, including some unique "Shay" locomotives. These Shay locomotives were designed to work well on steep, curvy tracks, which were common in logging areas. One of their locomotives, number 4, is still preserved today on the Niles Canyon Railway.