Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad |
|
|---|---|
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad's Shay No. 10 backing into the shops after a run on the line.
|
|
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | California Lumber Company |
| Original gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Preserved gauge | 3 ft |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1874 |
| Closed | 1931 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1961 | Reopened |
| Headquarters | Tuolumne |
| Website | |
| http://www.ymsprr.com/ | |
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (YMSPRR) is a special historic train line. It uses a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge track. This means the tracks are closer together than regular train tracks. The railroad is located near Fish Camp, California, close to the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park.
It has two working steam locomotives. Rudy Stauffer started the YMSPRR in 1961. He used old train tracks and engines to build a fun tourist line. This new line followed the path of an old logging railroad.
The railroad began by buying a large Shay locomotive called No. 10. It was built in 1928. This engine was known as the biggest narrow gauge Shay ever made. Rudy's son, Max Stauffer, took over the railroad in 1981. Later, in 1986, the YMSPRR bought another Shay engine, No. 15.
These two steam engines run every day in the summer. During other times of the year, smaller "Jenny" railcars are often used. These railcars are like old cars that were changed to run on train tracks. They can carry about 12 passengers. Visitors can ride in open-air cars or enclosed cars.
The Railroad's Past
The train tracks you see today follow part of an old path. This path was made by the Madera Sugar Pine Company long ago. This company started in 1874. It was first called the California Lumber Company. Their job was to cut down trees around Oakhurst, California.
The Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company had a huge sawmill. It was in a place called Sugar Pine, California. This is just south of where the YMSPRR is now. The company had seven locomotives and over 100 log cars. They also had about 140 miles (230 km) of track in the mountains.
Besides the railroad, the company used a long wooden channel called a flume. This flume was 54 miles (87 km) long. It carried cut lumber from Sugar Pine all the way to Madera, California. This was the best way to move wood out of the mountains. The company cut down almost every tree in the area. This is called clearcutting. Today, the forest looks thick, but you can still see large stumps from those old, giant trees.
The logging company closed in 1931. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when the economy was very bad. Also, there were not many trees left to cut. But the old train path through the forest stayed. This allowed the Stauffer family to rebuild part of the line in 1961. The current railroad uses engines and other equipment from another old logging company.
Max Stauffer passed away in 2017. Later that year, a big fire called the Railroad Fire started near the tracks. It sadly destroyed some old train equipment that was stored there.
Amazing Engines
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad has several interesting locomotives:
- No. 10: This is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Shay steam locomotive. It was built in 1928. It was first made for the Pickering Lumber Company. Later, the West Side Lumber Company bought it. No. 10 uses oil for fuel. It can hold 1,200 U.S. gallons (1,000 imperial gallons; 4,500 liters) of oil and 3,420 US gal (2,850 imp gal; 12,900 L) of water. People say this is the biggest narrow gauge Shay engine ever built!
- No. 15: This is also a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Shay steam locomotive. It was built in 1913. This engine had a few owners before the West Side Lumber Company bought it. When that company closed, No. 15 was used for a tourist train. It sat on display for a while. Then, the YMSPRR bought it in 1988. No. 15 also burns oil. It can hold 1,000 US gal (830 imp gal; 3,800 L) of oil and 2,000 US gal (1,700 imp gal; 7,600 L) of water.
- "Jenny" Railcars: These are special Ford Model A cars. They were changed to run on train tracks by the West Side Lumber Company. Each "Jenny" car can carry about 12 people. They offer rides when the steam trains are not running.
- No. 402: This is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge diesel engine. It has two trucks and a cab in the middle. The YMSPRR does not use this engine for regular passenger rides.
- No. 5: This is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge diesel switch engine. It was built in 1935. It is not currently running.
-
No. 10 taking on water during a morning run.
-
No. 15 leaving the engine house.
-
No. 402 getting ready for a tourist trip in 2022.
-
No. 5 is a two-axle diesel switch engine.
-
A Jenny Railcar.
Fun Things to Do
When you visit the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, there are other cool things to see and do:
- The Thornberry Museum: This is a historic log cabin. It was built over 140 years ago. It shows what life was like in the mountains a long time ago.
- The Sugar Pine Trading Company: Here you can find books and information. They are about the YMSPRR, other railroads, and the history of Yosemite Valley.
- Picnic and event areas: You can have a picnic or attend events at the end of the train line.
- Gold panning: Try your hand at finding gold!
- A rare narrow gauge snowplow: See the West Side Lumber Company's snowplow No. 2.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- Yosemite National Park
