Diamond and Caldor Railway facts for kids
The Diamond and Caldor Railway was a special kind of train line in El Dorado County, California. It was a narrow gauge railroad, meaning its tracks were closer together than regular train tracks. This railway was mostly used for moving logs, but it also carried passengers sometimes. It stretched about 34 miles long.
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History of the Railway
The Diamond and Caldor Railway was built by a company called the California Door Company. This company started in 1884 and bought a lot of forest land in El Dorado County in 1899. They needed timber for their factories.
Building the Line
At first, the company used oxen to pull cut trees to their sawmill. Then, they tried steam tractors, but those didn't work out well. In 1902, they built a new sawmill in a place called Caldor, California. They also had a factory 36 miles away in Diamond Springs.
To connect these two places, the company started building a narrow-gauge railroad in late 1903. The railway officially became a company on February 9, 1904. It opened for business in 1905. The tracks followed the North Fork of the Cosumnes River.
How the Railway Operated
The railway mainly used special steam engines called Shay locomotives. These engines were good for climbing hills and going around tight curves, which was perfect for logging areas.
For many years, the railway carried rough-cut wood from the mill in Caldor to the factory in Diamond Springs. But in 1923, a fire destroyed the mill in Caldor. After that, the company built a new, modern factory in Diamond Springs. From then on, the railway carried whole, uncut logs from the forests directly to the new factory.
The Diamond and Caldor Railway kept running until April 10, 1953, when it closed down. Most of its Shay locomotives were scrapped. However, Engine #4 was saved. It was displayed at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds for a while. Now, a group called the El Dorado Western Railway Foundation is working to restore it.
Safety Rules and the Railway
Because the Diamond and Caldor was a "common carrier," it meant they carried goods and people for the public. This meant they had to follow rules from the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). One important rule was that their train cars needed to have air brakes and automatic couplers. These are important safety features.
The Diamond and Caldor Railway didn't fully follow these equipment rules. A railroad historian named Donald B. Robertson said that this railway might be the only one in the western United States that had to close down because it didn't meet these safety equipment requirements.
Locomotives Used
The Diamond and Caldor Railway used several steam locomotives during its time. Most of them were Shay locomotives, which were very powerful and good for logging operations.
- Shay Locomotives: These were the main engines used. They were known for their unique design, which allowed them to pull heavy loads on steep, winding tracks.
- Engine #4: This particular Shay locomotive is special because it was saved. It's now being restored, so future generations might get to see it.
- Other Engines: The railway also had a few other types of engines, including an older Baldwin locomotive and some smaller railcars for different tasks.