Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad (NCNGRR) (nickname: Never Come, Never Go) was located in Northern California
's Nevada County
and Placer County
, where it connected with the Central Pacific Railroad
. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Company incorporated on April 4, 1874, and was headquartered in Grass Valley, California
. After two years of construction, passenger and commercial rail services began in 1876 and continued until 1943. The 22.53 mi (36.3 km) line ran from Colfax
, north through Grass Valley to Nevada City
. At one time, the railroad was notable for having the highest railroad bridge in California, the Bear River
Bridge, built in 1908.
. In addition, timber operators wanted to make their land accessible to the Southern Pacific Company in Colfax. On March 20, 1874, the California legislature and Governor Newton Booth
approved the right to build and operate a narrow gauge railroad from Colfax, through Grass Valley, to Nevada City. On June 20, an Act of Congress
granted the railroad right of way through public lands.
J. H. Bates estimated that construction and equipment would total $411,132. Only one bid came in and it was for $500,000, signed by M. F. Beatty; he received a lump sum of $500,000. Construction began January 1875. Turton & Knox were subcontracted for earthwork. John Flint Kidder
was the chief engineer. Within two months, 600 men were employed in the railroad's construction.
Construction included two bridges, two tunnels, and five trestles. After leaving the Colfax depot
, the road headed north, parallel with the Central Pacific Railroad, then crossed Bear River, and into Nevada County. One of the first stations was at the town of You Bet
, which serviced the Goodwin Drift Gravel Mine. The road proceeded into Chicago Park
, a fruit and grape growers colony, and then continued into Grass Valley. All cars and locomotives had Westinghouse
railway brakes, and cars used for passenger service had Miller Platform
couplers
. As the first contractor, Beatty, was unable to complete the project, a second, J. K. Bynre, was brought in; construction was completed in the spring of 1876. The inaugural train, from Colfax to Grass Valley, ran on April 11 and by May 20, the first train reached Nevada City.
The company's first President was John C. Coleman, president of the North Star Mine
. Kidder, the builder, decided to settle down in Grass Valley, becoming the General Superintendent, and in 1884, became the second president. Upon his death in 1901, Kidder's widow, Sarah
, took over, becoming the first female railroad president in the world.
In September 1907, a 3.56 mi (5.7 km) "cut-off", at a cost of $132,285 was built, bettering the grade. The following year, construction was completed on the Bear River Bridge. By 1912, the NCNGRR was running three mixed trains daily, each way, between Nevada City and Colfax, while a fourth mixed train ran daily, each way, between Grass Valley and Colfax. Sarah Kidder sold her interests in 1913 and retired to San Francisco.
In 1926, Earl Taylor and his associates purchased the railroad for $1. With the outbreak of World War II
, they sold it in 1942 for $251,000 to Dulian Steel Products Company and the last train to run over the line was on May 29.
Each combination coach had a small iron safe in the baggage compartment. Though $200,000,000 in gold was hauled out of Nevada County by the NCNGRR during its operation, there was never an attempted robbery.
built locomotive
engines. These included:
The company's other engines included:
and Theodore Roosevelt
, singer Emma Nevada
, and Britain's Prince Albert.
erected a historical marker in Colfax at 39°6.011′N 120°57.159′W near the old NCNGRR depot, the southern end of the line. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad & Transportation Museum
was created in recent years at the northern end of the line in Nevada City.
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
's Nevada County
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
and Placer County
Placer County, California
Placer County is a county located in both the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Greater Sacramento,...
, where it connected with the Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Company incorporated on April 4, 1874, and was headquartered in Grass Valley, California
Grass Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Grass Valley had a population of 12,860. The population density was 2,711.3 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Grass Valley was 11,493 White, 46 African American, 208 Native American, 188 Asian, 9 Pacific Islander, 419 from other...
. After two years of construction, passenger and commercial rail services began in 1876 and continued until 1943. The 22.53 mi (36.3 km) line ran from Colfax
Colfax, California
Colfax is a city in Placer County, California, at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,963 at the 2010 census...
, north through Grass Valley to Nevada City
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
. At one time, the railroad was notable for having the highest railroad bridge in California, the Bear River
Bear River (Feather River tributary)
The Bear River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sierra Nevada, winding through four California counties: Yuba, Sutter, Placer, and Nevada....
Bridge, built in 1908.
History
The need for rail service in the semi-mountainous and wooded area of Grass Valley and Nevada City was precipitated by mining operations subsequent to the California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. In addition, timber operators wanted to make their land accessible to the Southern Pacific Company in Colfax. On March 20, 1874, the California legislature and Governor Newton Booth
Newton Booth
Newton Booth was an American politician.Born in Salem, Indiana, he attended the common schools. In 1841, his parents Beebe and Hannah Booth moved from Salem to Terre Haute, Indiana. Newton graduated from Asbury University, later renamed DePauw University, in nearby Greencastle, Indiana. He studied...
approved the right to build and operate a narrow gauge railroad from Colfax, through Grass Valley, to Nevada City. On June 20, an Act of Congress
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
granted the railroad right of way through public lands.
J. H. Bates estimated that construction and equipment would total $411,132. Only one bid came in and it was for $500,000, signed by M. F. Beatty; he received a lump sum of $500,000. Construction began January 1875. Turton & Knox were subcontracted for earthwork. John Flint Kidder
John Flint Kidder
John Flint Kidder was a politician, civil engineer and railroad executive who built and later owned Northern California's Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad which, during its operation, never experienced an attempted robbery....
was the chief engineer. Within two months, 600 men were employed in the railroad's construction.
Construction included two bridges, two tunnels, and five trestles. After leaving the Colfax depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
, the road headed north, parallel with the Central Pacific Railroad, then crossed Bear River, and into Nevada County. One of the first stations was at the town of You Bet
You Bet, California
You Bet is a small unincorporated community mining town in Nevada County, California, United States. You Bet is located northeast of Chicago Park. The town was founded in 1858, on the Sierra Nevada Range, and is bordered by the Yuba and Bear Rivers....
, which serviced the Goodwin Drift Gravel Mine. The road proceeded into Chicago Park
Chicago Park, California
Chicago Park is an unincorporated community in Nevada County, California, United States, along State Route 174 southeast of Grass Valley, California, and north of Colfax, California.-History:...
, a fruit and grape growers colony, and then continued into Grass Valley. All cars and locomotives had Westinghouse
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
railway brakes, and cars used for passenger service had Miller Platform
Miller Platform
The Miller Platform was an innovative railroad passenger car platform of the 19th century designed to prevent the hazard of telescoping in railroad collisions. It was named for its U.S. inventor, Ezra Miller who was issued a patent for it on July 24, 1866...
couplers
Coupling (railway)
A coupling is a mechanism for connecting rolling stock in a train. The design of the coupler is standard, and is almost as important as the railway gauge, since flexibility and convenience are maximised if all rolling stock can be coupled together.The equipment that connects the couplings to the...
. As the first contractor, Beatty, was unable to complete the project, a second, J. K. Bynre, was brought in; construction was completed in the spring of 1876. The inaugural train, from Colfax to Grass Valley, ran on April 11 and by May 20, the first train reached Nevada City.
The company's first President was John C. Coleman, president of the North Star Mine
North Star Mine
The North Star Mine was located on Lafayette Hill a short distance south of Grass Valley, California, USA. It was the second largest producer of gold during California’s Gold Rush. In 1898, the largest ever Pelton wheel for its time was built for the mine. The North Star Mine Company also owned...
. Kidder, the builder, decided to settle down in Grass Valley, becoming the General Superintendent, and in 1884, became the second president. Upon his death in 1901, Kidder's widow, Sarah
Sarah Kidder
Sarah Clark Kidder was president of Northern California's Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad from 1901 to 1913. She was the first female railroad president in the world, taking on the position upon the death of her husband, John Flint Kidder, who is credited with building the railroad.Civil...
, took over, becoming the first female railroad president in the world.
In September 1907, a 3.56 mi (5.7 km) "cut-off", at a cost of $132,285 was built, bettering the grade. The following year, construction was completed on the Bear River Bridge. By 1912, the NCNGRR was running three mixed trains daily, each way, between Nevada City and Colfax, while a fourth mixed train ran daily, each way, between Grass Valley and Colfax. Sarah Kidder sold her interests in 1913 and retired to San Francisco.
In 1926, Earl Taylor and his associates purchased the railroad for $1. With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, they sold it in 1942 for $251,000 to Dulian Steel Products Company and the last train to run over the line was on May 29.
Each combination coach had a small iron safe in the baggage compartment. Though $200,000,000 in gold was hauled out of Nevada County by the NCNGRR during its operation, there was never an attempted robbery.
Statistics
- Length:
- Placer County: The main line was 5.62 mi (9 km) long, and had 1.73 mi (2.8 km) in spurs and sidings
- Nevada County: The main line was 16.79 mi (27 km) long, and had 2.39 mi (3.8 km) in spurs and sidings.
- Maximum grade: 116 ft (35.4 m) per mile, or 2.2%
- Minimum radius of curvature: 302.9 ft (92.3 m).
- Weight: 35 pounds/yard
- Degrees of curvature: 7944
- Length of tangents: 53908 ft (16,431.2 m)
- Ascents from Colfax: 1159 ft (353.3 m)
- Descents from Colfax: 1042 ft (317.6 m)
- Initial rates:
- Passenger services: $.10/mile
- Freight services: $.20/ton/mile
- Running time:
- Absolute: 1 hour, 40 minutes
- Mixed trains: Two hours
- Average stops: Four
Locomotives
NCNGRR used nine Baldwin Locomotive WorksBaldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
built locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
engines. These included:
- Engine 1, nicknamed Grass Valley, was built in July 1875, and was in service 1875–1936.
- Engine 2, nicknamed Nevada, was built in July 1875, and was also in service 1875–1936.
- Engine 3 was built in September 1877, and was in service 1877–1915.
- Engine 5, named Tahoe, was built in March 1875, and was in service 1899–1940.
- Engine 7 was built in August 1881, and was in service 1929–1934.
- Engine 8 was built in February 1882, and was in service 1933–1942.
- Engine 9 was built in April 1914, and was in service 1933–1942.
- The un-numbered Glenbrook was built in 1875, and was in service 1936–1942.
The company's other engines included:
- Engine 4, nicknamed Santa Cruz, was built in 1875 by Porter-BellH. K. Porter, IncH. K. Porter, Inc. manufactured light-duty railroad locomotives in the USA, starting in 1866. The company became the largest producer of industrial locomotives, and built almost eight thousand of them...
, and was in service 1899–1916. - Engine 6 was built in 1883 by New York Works, and was in service 1915–1921.
- Engine 10 was built by Fate-Root-Heath Company of Plymouth, OhioPlymouth, OhioPlymouth is a village in Huron and Richland counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,852 at the 2000 census.The Richland County portion of Plymouth is part of the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Huron County portion is part of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical...
, and was in service only during the first six months of 1936. - Engine 11 was built by Whitcomb Manufacturing CompanyWhitcomb Locomotive WorksWhitcomb Locomotive Works was founded by George Dexter Whitcomb , of Chicago, Illinois, who started a modest machine shop in 1878, and began the manufacture of coal mining machinery, laying the foundation for the concern that became known as The Whitcomb Locomotive Company.-Beginnings:Mr. Whitcomb...
of Rochelle, IllinoisRochelle, IllinoisRochelle is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,574 at the 2010 census, up from 9,424 at the 2000 census. Rochelle is about west of Chicago and south of Rockford...
, and was in service 1936–1942.
Notable passengers
There were several notable passengers, including presidents Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, singer Emma Nevada
Emma Nevada
Emma Nevada was an American operatic soprano particularly known for her performances in operas by Bellini and Donizetti and the French composers Ambroise Thomas, Charles Gounod, and Léo Delibes...
, and Britain's Prince Albert.
Historic recognition
In the centennial year after the railroad began operations, E Clampus VitusE Clampus Vitus
The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus is a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of Western heritage, especially the history of the Mother Lode and gold mining regions of the area...
erected a historical marker in Colfax at 39°6.011′N 120°57.159′W near the old NCNGRR depot, the southern end of the line. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad & Transportation Museum
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad & Transportation Museum
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad & Transportation Museum is a transport museum and heritage railroad located in Nevada City, California....
was created in recent years at the northern end of the line in Nevada City.