Palmdale Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Palmdale Railroad was a narrow gauge
horse-drawn railroad which existed only briefly in present-day Palm Springs, California
at the end of the 19th Century.
Originally proposed by a Professor Wheaton, a Boston
native who relocated to the desert due to asthma
, the railroad was part of a larger development which included 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of orange grove
s.
Running primarily down present-day Farrell Drive to the proposed settlement of Palmdale at the foot of Mount San Jacinto
near the present-day settlement of Snow Creek (not to be confused with the Antelope Valley city of the same name
), the line had been abandoned by 1893 due to lack of water. Ties from the right-of way were used to build the Cornelia White House
, which still stands today in downtown Palm Springs.
For years after its abandonment, a single, dilapidated horse-drawn car remained in the desert as a sort of landmark to travelers. The car is no longer visible and is presumed to be buried beneath the sand.
The California Office of Historic Preservation recognized the site of the railroad as a point of interest
on November 3, 1969.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
horse-drawn railroad which existed only briefly in present-day Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
at the end of the 19th Century.
Originally proposed by a Professor Wheaton, a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
native who relocated to the desert due to asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, the railroad was part of a larger development which included 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of orange grove
Orange Grove
-Music:* Orange Grove , a Dutch/Antillean reggae band-Australia:* Orange Grove, Western Australia* The Orange Grove affair, a political scandal-United States:...
s.
Running primarily down present-day Farrell Drive to the proposed settlement of Palmdale at the foot of Mount San Jacinto
Mount San Jacinto
Mount San Jacinto may refer to* A dormant volcano located on Kruzof Island in Alaska, U.S., currently named Mount Edgecumbe* San Jacinto Peak, the highest peak in Riverside County, California...
near the present-day settlement of Snow Creek (not to be confused with the Antelope Valley city of the same name
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
), the line had been abandoned by 1893 due to lack of water. Ties from the right-of way were used to build the Cornelia White House
Cornelia White House
The Cornelia White House is a historic 1893 wooden residential structure located in downtown Palm Springs, California, and is one of the oldest surviving structures – of any kind – in the town.-Cornelia White history:...
, which still stands today in downtown Palm Springs.
For years after its abandonment, a single, dilapidated horse-drawn car remained in the desert as a sort of landmark to travelers. The car is no longer visible and is presumed to be buried beneath the sand.
The California Office of Historic Preservation recognized the site of the railroad as a point of interest
Point of interest
A point of interest, or POI, is a specific point location that someone may find useful or interesting. An example is a point on the Earth representing the location of the Space Needle, or a point on Mars representing the location of the mountain, Olympus Mons.The term is widely used in...
on November 3, 1969.
External links and references
- Sample of "The Wonders of the Colorado Desert" by George Wharton Jones at books.google.com
- Main page of the Palm Springs Historical Society
- Self-guided tour of downtown Palm Springs including the Cornelia White House at www.pspf.net
- Palmdale Railroad listing at Office of Historic Preservation's website