Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad was formed by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
as a consolidation of logging company railways on the coast of Mendocino County, California. The line was merged into the regional Northwestern Pacific Railroad
in 1907; but planned physical connection was never completed.
at the mouth of the Albion River
in 1853. This logging operation incorporated the Albion River Railroad Company on 24 September 1885 to haul logs down the Albion River to the sawmill. The railroad extended 11.6 miles (18.6 kilometers) to Keene's summit when it was reorganized with the sawmill on 26 May 1891 as the Albion Lumber Company with headquarters in San Francisco. Lumber was loaded onto ships from a wharf at the mouth for the Albion River for drying and planing in San Francisco.
H. B. Tichnor and Company built a sawmill at the mouth of the Navarro River
in 1861. This logging operation was reorganized as the Navarro Mill Company in 1886 and loaded lumber onto ships from a millside wharf. Navarro Mill Company had extended a logging railroad 14 miles (22 kilometers) up the Navarro River by the time the sawmill burned in 1902. The focus of logging operations in the Navarro River watershed then shifted to the community of Wendling, near the upstream extent of the Navarro Mill Company railway.
The Albion and Southeastern Railroad was formed on 1 April 1902 to purchase the railway from the Albion Lumber Company and extend it into the Anderson Valley
of the Navarro River to Boonville, California
. The Santa Fe Railway incorporated the Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad on 25 March 1903 with intention to extend the Albion and Southeastern through the Dry Creek drainage for a connection with national railway system at Healdsburg, California
. The Fort Bragg and Southeastern completed construction from Keene's Summit to Wendling on 15 September 1905. Switchbacks
were required near Keene's Summit. A. G. Stearns built a sawmill in Wendling in 1905. The Wendling sawmill was reorganized as the Navarro Lumber Company in 1914. The community of Wendling was renamed Navarro
as the local population shifted from the old coastal community of Navarro (which changed its name to Navarro-by-the-sea
) to follow the logging and milling jobs.
The Fort Bragg and Southeastern was included in the Northwestern Pacific Railroad merger on 8 January 1907. Southern Pacific Transportation Company purchased the Albion Lumber Company in 1907 to manufacture ties and bridge timbers for railway construction in Mexico
. The Albion Lumber Company purchased the Navarro Lumber Company in May 1920. The Fort Bragg and Southeastern was extended 3 miles (5 kilometers) past Wendling to a point known as Christine, and a branch line extended one mile up the Albion River from Clearbrook Junction. Albion Lumber Company trackage extended the Clearbrook branch 8 miles (14 kilometers) toward Comptche, California
and Navarro Lumber Company trackage extended 4 miles (7 kilometers) past Christine. There were numerous shorter logging branches owned by the lumber companies, but trains never reached Boonville or Healdsburg. Operation of the Navarro sawmill ended in September, 1927; and the last log went through the Albion sawmill on 19 May 1928. The railroad ceased operation on 16 January 1930 and was dismantled for scrap in 1937.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
as a consolidation of logging company railways on the coast of Mendocino County, California. The line was merged into the regional Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
in 1907; but planned physical connection was never completed.
History
Captain William A. Richardson built a sawmillSawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
at the mouth of the Albion River
Albion River
The Albion River is an river in Mendocino County, California. The river drains about on the Mendocino Coast and empties into the Pacific Ocean near the town of Albion, California, where California State Route 1 crosses it on the Albion River Bridge. The river's overall direction is east to west,...
in 1853. This logging operation incorporated the Albion River Railroad Company on 24 September 1885 to haul logs down the Albion River to the sawmill. The railroad extended 11.6 miles (18.6 kilometers) to Keene's summit when it was reorganized with the sawmill on 26 May 1891 as the Albion Lumber Company with headquarters in San Francisco. Lumber was loaded onto ships from a wharf at the mouth for the Albion River for drying and planing in San Francisco.
H. B. Tichnor and Company built a sawmill at the mouth of the Navarro River
Navarro River
The Navarro River is a river in Mendocino County, California. It flows northwest through the Coastal Range to the Pacific Ocean. Encompassing , its watershed includes the Anderson Valley, a well-known wine-growing region in Mendocino County. The main stem of the Navarro River begins less than ...
in 1861. This logging operation was reorganized as the Navarro Mill Company in 1886 and loaded lumber onto ships from a millside wharf. Navarro Mill Company had extended a logging railroad 14 miles (22 kilometers) up the Navarro River by the time the sawmill burned in 1902. The focus of logging operations in the Navarro River watershed then shifted to the community of Wendling, near the upstream extent of the Navarro Mill Company railway.
The Albion and Southeastern Railroad was formed on 1 April 1902 to purchase the railway from the Albion Lumber Company and extend it into the Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley is a sparsely populated region in western Mendocino County in Northern California. Located approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco, the name "Anderson Valley" applies broadly to several rural, unincorporated communities in or near the alluvial terraces along Anderson Creek...
of the Navarro River to Boonville, California
Boonville, California
Boonville is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located southwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 381 feet . The population was 1,035 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The Santa Fe Railway incorporated the Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad on 25 March 1903 with intention to extend the Albion and Southeastern through the Dry Creek drainage for a connection with national railway system at Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg is a city located in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 11,254...
. The Fort Bragg and Southeastern completed construction from Keene's Summit to Wendling on 15 September 1905. Switchbacks
Zig Zag (railway)
A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance , the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.A location on railways constructed e.g...
were required near Keene's Summit. A. G. Stearns built a sawmill in Wendling in 1905. The Wendling sawmill was reorganized as the Navarro Lumber Company in 1914. The community of Wendling was renamed Navarro
Navarro, California
Navarro is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located west of Ukiah, at an elevation of 269 feet...
as the local population shifted from the old coastal community of Navarro (which changed its name to Navarro-by-the-sea
Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Navarro River Redwoods State Park is a state park in Mendocino County, California consisting of of second-growth redwood forest in a narrow stretch long on both banks of the Navarro River, from the town of Navarro to the river's confluence with the Pacific Ocean.-Activities and facilities:The...
) to follow the logging and milling jobs.
The Fort Bragg and Southeastern was included in the Northwestern Pacific Railroad merger on 8 January 1907. Southern Pacific Transportation Company purchased the Albion Lumber Company in 1907 to manufacture ties and bridge timbers for railway construction in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Albion Lumber Company purchased the Navarro Lumber Company in May 1920. The Fort Bragg and Southeastern was extended 3 miles (5 kilometers) past Wendling to a point known as Christine, and a branch line extended one mile up the Albion River from Clearbrook Junction. Albion Lumber Company trackage extended the Clearbrook branch 8 miles (14 kilometers) toward Comptche, California
Comptche, California
Comptche is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located southeast of Fort Bragg, at an elevation of 187 feet . There is a KG-3 Primary school serving the town. The population was 159 at the 2010 census....
and Navarro Lumber Company trackage extended 4 miles (7 kilometers) past Christine. There were numerous shorter logging branches owned by the lumber companies, but trains never reached Boonville or Healdsburg. Operation of the Navarro sawmill ended in September, 1927; and the last log went through the Albion sawmill on 19 May 1928. The railroad ceased operation on 16 January 1930 and was dismantled for scrap in 1937.
Route
- Milepost 0 - Albion wharfAlbion, CaliforniaAlbion is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located south of Fort Bragg, at an elevation of 174 feet . Albion had a population of 168 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
(2-stall RoundhouseRoundhouseA roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
built 1891 and dismantled in 1937) - Milepost 3.25 - Brett
- Milepost 7.32 - Clearbrook Junction
- Milepost 8.30 - Gunari
- Milepost 12.37 - Sunny Slope
- Milepost 13.05 - Skibo (water tank)
- Milepost 14.65 - switchback
- Milepost 15.44 - Keene summit elevation 611 feet (186 meters)
- Milepost 15.65 - switchback
- Milepost 16.54 - Dunn (water tank)
- Milepost 22.15 - Stearn's sawmill
- Milepost 22.87 - Wendling (1-stall RoundhouseRoundhouseA roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
built 1905 and dismantled in 1937) - Milepost 25.65 - Christine
Locomotives
| Number | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H. K. Porter, Inc H. K. Porter, Inc H. 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... |
2-4-2 2-4-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle... Tank locomotive Tank locomotive A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon... |
1887 | 905 | formerly National City and Otay Railroad #5; to Fort Bragg and Southeastern in 1905; became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #225 in 1907; scrapped 1937 |
| 2 | Hinkley Locomotive Works Hinkley Locomotive Works Hinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F... |
0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels... |
1880 | originally Santa Fe Railroad #122, renumbered #2232; to Fort Bragg and Southeastern in 1905; became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #226 in 1907; scrapped 1910 |
|
| Lima Locomotive Works Lima Locomotive Works Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line... |
wood-burning 3-cylinder Shay locomotive Shay locomotive The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive... |
27 March 1906 | 1669 | built as Albion Lumber Company #123; renumbered #2 in 1921; scrapped in 1937 | |
| Lima Locomotive Works Lima Locomotive Works Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line... |
Shay locomotive Shay locomotive The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive... |
5 March 1907 | 1906 | built as Stearns Lumber Company #1; became Navarro Lumber Company #1 in 1914; became Albion Lumber Company #1 in August, 1921; scrapped in 1937 | |
| Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin 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... |
2-6-2 2-6-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels.Other equivalent classifications are:... |
1903 | 22474 | built as oil-burning 2-6-2T California Northwestern Railway #34; became Northwestern Pacific Railroad Northwestern Pacific Railroad The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California... #202 in 1907; side tanks retained when tender added in 1910; converted to wood-burning for assignment to the former Fort Bragg and Southeastern in 1912; converted back to oil fuel in 1923; scrapped in 1937 |