Borate and Daggett Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Borate and Daggett Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad built to carry borax
in the Mojave Desert
. The railroad ran about 11 miles from Daggett, California
, USA to Borate, California, USA.
originally intended to use mule teams to carry borax ore to Daggett until he tried to use a steam tractor called "Old Dinah" to carry the ore instead. The tractor broke down too often and was eventually retired. In 1908, Smith finally began to build a 3ft-gauge railroad to carry the ore faster than the mules and the tractor.
The railroad owned 2 steam engines, both Heisler locomotive
s. They were named "Francis" and "Marion" after Francis Marion Smith
, the "Borax King" and founder of Pacific Coast Borax Company
. Ore from the Calico Mountains
was carried in wooden, side-dump ore cars. A few odd flatcars completed the roster of rolling stock.
In 1907, the ore at Borate began to run out of fresh borax deposits. Once Smith discovered richer borax deposits in Death Valley, he moved his headquarters there and the last B&D steam train ran into Daggett about two years later.
The two locomotives were stored away in Daggett for a while until 1913 where they were taken to Ludlow, California
to work on constructing the Death Valley Railroad
, another one of Smith's narrow gauge lines. Francis was the engine sent to Death Valley, but Marion was thought too old for service and was cut up at the engine shops. After the Death Valley Railroad
shut down, Francis was moved to the Nevada Short Line Railway
to work until he was sent to Round Mountain, California
to work for the Terry Lumber Company in the 1920's. The locomotive then disappeared after the lumber railway shut down and it is not known what happened to the locomotive today.
After the railroad ceased operations, some of the equipment was shipped to Ludlow, California
. Still later, it was used to construct the Death Valley Railroad
.
in 1899 with the plans of Charles L. Heisler with the build number of #1026, and worked for the following railroads:
It is not known if the engine has survived scrapping.
Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.Borax has a wide variety of uses...
in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. The railroad ran about 11 miles from Daggett, California
Daggett, California
Daggett is an unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles East of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.-History:The town was...
, USA to Borate, California, USA.
History
Francis Marion SmithFrancis Marion Smith
Francis Marion Smith was an American miner, business magnate and civic builder in the Mojave Desert, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Oakland, California.Frank Smith created the extensive interurban public transit Key System in Oakland, the East Bay,...
originally intended to use mule teams to carry borax ore to Daggett until he tried to use a steam tractor called "Old Dinah" to carry the ore instead. The tractor broke down too often and was eventually retired. In 1908, Smith finally began to build a 3ft-gauge railroad to carry the ore faster than the mules and the tractor.
The railroad owned 2 steam engines, both Heisler locomotive
Heisler locomotive
The Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotive, Charles L. Heisler receiving a patent for the design in 1892 following the construction of a prototype in 1891. Somewhat similar to a Climax locomotive, Heisler's design featured two cylinders canted...
s. They were named "Francis" and "Marion" after Francis Marion Smith
Francis Marion Smith
Francis Marion Smith was an American miner, business magnate and civic builder in the Mojave Desert, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Oakland, California.Frank Smith created the extensive interurban public transit Key System in Oakland, the East Bay,...
, the "Borax King" and founder of Pacific Coast Borax Company
Pacific Coast Borax Company
The Pacific Coast Borax Company was a United States mining company founded in 1890 by the American borax magnate Francis "Borax" Smith, the "Borax King".-History:...
. Ore from the Calico Mountains
Calico Mountains
The Calico Mountains of California are located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County and Inyo County, California.-Geography:The Calico Mountains are geologically and historically colorful range that lie in a northwest-southeast direction, and are located just north of Barstow and Yermo, and...
was carried in wooden, side-dump ore cars. A few odd flatcars completed the roster of rolling stock.
In 1907, the ore at Borate began to run out of fresh borax deposits. Once Smith discovered richer borax deposits in Death Valley, he moved his headquarters there and the last B&D steam train ran into Daggett about two years later.
The two locomotives were stored away in Daggett for a while until 1913 where they were taken to Ludlow, California
Ludlow, California
Ludlow is a small town in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 40, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The older remains of the ghost town are along historic Route 66.-Geography:...
to work on constructing the Death Valley Railroad
Death Valley Railroad
The Death Valley Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated in California's Death Valley.It was built in 1914 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company to carry borax with the route running from Ryan, California, located just east of Death Valley National Park, to Death Valley Junction, a distance...
, another one of Smith's narrow gauge lines. Francis was the engine sent to Death Valley, but Marion was thought too old for service and was cut up at the engine shops. After the Death Valley Railroad
Death Valley Railroad
The Death Valley Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated in California's Death Valley.It was built in 1914 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company to carry borax with the route running from Ryan, California, located just east of Death Valley National Park, to Death Valley Junction, a distance...
shut down, Francis was moved to the Nevada Short Line Railway
Nevada Short Line Railway
The Nevada Short Line Railway was a railroad that ran east from Oreana to the silver mining area of Rochester, Nevada. The railway terminated near, but did not connect with, the Southern Pacfiic Railroad in Oreana due to the Nevada Short Line being narrow gauge and the SP being a standard...
to work until he was sent to Round Mountain, California
Round Mountain, California
Round Mountain is a census-designated place in Shasta County, California, United States. The population was 155 at the 2010 census, up from 122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Round Mountain is located at ....
to work for the Terry Lumber Company in the 1920's. The locomotive then disappeared after the lumber railway shut down and it is not known what happened to the locomotive today.
After the railroad ceased operations, some of the equipment was shipped to Ludlow, California
Ludlow, California
Ludlow is a small town in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 40, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The older remains of the ghost town are along historic Route 66.-Geography:...
. Still later, it was used to construct the Death Valley Railroad
Death Valley Railroad
The Death Valley Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated in California's Death Valley.It was built in 1914 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company to carry borax with the route running from Ryan, California, located just east of Death Valley National Park, to Death Valley Junction, a distance...
.
History of "Francis"
2-truck Heisler locomotive #2 "Francis" was built at the Stearns Manufacturing Locomotive Works of Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
in 1899 with the plans of Charles L. Heisler with the build number of #1026, and worked for the following railroads:
- Borate and Daggett Railroad; Daggett, CaliforniaDaggett, CaliforniaDaggett is an unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles East of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.-History:The town was...
- Death Valley Railroad; Death Valley Junction, CaliforniaDeath Valley Junction, CaliforniaDeath Valley Junction is a tiny Mojave Desert community in unincorporated Inyo County, California, at the intersection of SR 190 and SR 127, just east of Death Valley National Park. The zip code is 92328, the elevation is , and the population fewer than 20. The city limits sign reports a...
- Nevada Short Line Railway; Oreana, Nevada
- Terry Lumber Company; Round Mountain, CaliforniaRound Mountain, CaliforniaRound Mountain is a census-designated place in Shasta County, California, United States. The population was 155 at the 2010 census, up from 122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Round Mountain is located at ....
It is not known if the engine has survived scrapping.
See Also
- Tonopah and Tidewater RailroadTonopah and Tidewater RailroadThe Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, the T&T, was a class II railroad extending through remote reaches of the Mojave Desert from the Santa Fe Railway railhead at Ludlow, California, through Death Valley and Amargosa Valley, terminating at the Mining towns of Tonopah and Goldfield in the Great Basin...
, the B&D's standard gauge successor. - Death Valley RailroadDeath Valley RailroadThe Death Valley Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated in California's Death Valley.It was built in 1914 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company to carry borax with the route running from Ryan, California, located just east of Death Valley National Park, to Death Valley Junction, a distance...
, one of the railways that used the B&D's former equipment, even the B&D's second engine "Francis." - Round Mountain, CaliforniaRound Mountain, CaliforniaRound Mountain is a census-designated place in Shasta County, California, United States. The population was 155 at the 2010 census, up from 122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Round Mountain is located at ....
, the supposed resting place of the "Francis." - United States Potash RailroadUnited States Potash RailroadThe United States Potash Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad built in 1930 to carry potash from the mines to the mill. The 16-mile railroad was located just east of Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park....
, the final resting place of ex-B&D and DVRR equipment.