Hetch Hetchy Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Hetch Hetchy Railroad (HHRR) was a 68 miles (109.4 km) standard gauge
Class III
railroad constructed by the City of San Francisco
to support the construction and expansion of the O'Shaughnessy Dam
across Hetch Hetchy Valley
.
Based in Groveland
, the HHRR operated from 1917 to 1949. It primarily carried construction crews and materials, but also took excursion passengers, freight, and mail. The line extended from its western terminus at Hetch Hetchy Junction (a junction with the Sierra Railroad
at Sierra milepost 26, 1000 feet (304.8 m) elevation at 37.802°N 120.488°W), topping out at Poopenaut Pass at 5064 feet (1,544 m) elevation (37.9012°N 119.8381°W), to its eastern terminus at about 3800 feet (1,158.2 m) elevation on the rim of the Hetch Hetchy Valley (est. 37.947°N 119.783°W) above the construction site.
The mountainous terrain resulted in steep grades
(over 4%) and extremely sharp curves (30 degrees
, a 190 feet (57.9 m) radius), requiring trains to move slowly, at speeds of less than 8 miles per hour (12.9 km/h).
in 1913, San Francisco began to plan to tap the Tuolumne River
watershed for water and power. A key element of the plan was a new reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, but access to the area was poor, so a railroad was planned. The first 9 miles (14.5 km) were completed in 1915, and the remaining 59 miles (95 km) were completed by October 1917. Construction costs for the HHRR were about US$
3 million, far less than what the city might have paid contractors to transport concrete and other materials for the dam over the rough terrain.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad operated as a common carrier from July 1918 to February 1925 while the dam was under construction. As a common carrier it was subject to rules of the California Railroad Commission, so there are published time tables and tariffs for this period. However, unlike most common carriers, the president of the railroad was San Francisco Mayor James Rolph
, and the vice president and general manager was the construction project's chief engineer Michael M. O'Shaughnessy. Revenue to support operation of the railroad was generated by charging timber companies and others along the line for freight. The line also carried mail for those in the area.
Since the support of the public in San Francisco was essential to the remote construction project's success, excursion trains were run to the site. For about US$30, passengers would board a sleeper car in San Francisco on Friday night, crossing California's Central Valley overnight, then boarding Hetch Hetchy line excursion cars on Saturday morning. Tourists spent two days viewing the construction site and the surrounding forest, spending Saturday night in bunkhouses and eating meals prepared on site. On Sunday afternoon they boarded the train for the trip back down the mountain, met the sleeper cars for the Sunday night valley crossing, and arrived back in San Francisco on Monday morning in time to go to work.
Intensive operations supporting the construction of the dam were complete in 1923, but the rail line continued operating as a freight and mail hauler, especially in winter when roads were too muddy for freight or were snowbound.
Between 1934 and 1938 the line was pressed back into construction service while the height of the dam was increased from 364 feet (110.9 m) to the present 430 feet (131.1 m) above bedrock. Since repairs were necessary before the line could again haul heavy freight to support construction hauling, and it was the height of the Great Depression
, an Emergency Relief Act provided about 600 workers to refurbish the line. Operations of the restored line were turned over to the Sierra Railway, and the reconstituted railroad started operations May 13, 1935, with a train of four cars powered by Sierra engines #30 and #32.
An abandoned HHRR bridge across the Tuolumne River was removed between 1967 and 1971 to clear the canyon for the expansion of Lake Don Pedro.
Several parts of the railroad's right-of-way were used for roadbeds: State Highway 120
in Big Oak Flat, and Cherry Oil Road to Camp Mather and beyond to the O'Shaughnessy Dam.
that would eventually become Pickering Lumber #2 was one of the first locomotives purchased when San Francisco began buying for the HHRR in 1917. Built in 1918, it may have worked tender to tender with Hetch Hetchy #4. In 1923 #2 was sold to Standard Lumber Company which became Pickering Lumber.
#35780 was built in 1910 and saw first service as Youngstown & Ohio River #1. It became Hetch Hetchy Railroad #3 in 1919. In 1927, about three years after HHRR passenger service was discontinued, this engine was sold and transported to Grants Pass
to became California & Oregon Coast #301. In 1941 it became Ideal Cement Company #301, which was retired around 1950.
The numbers for HHRR #3: 2-8-2
, cylinders with 21 inches (53.3 cm) bore and 24 inches (61 cm) stroke, 46 inches (116.8 cm) drivers, 165 pound per square inches (1.1 MPa) boiler pressure, 167000 pounds (75.7 MT) total weight, 131000 pounds (59.4 MT) on drivers, 31330 pound-forces (139.36 kN) TE
.
. This 2-8-2
Mikado had cylinders with 20 inches (50.8 cm) bore and 28 inches (71.1 cm) stroke, 48 inches (121.9 cm) drivers, weighed 97 short tons (88 MT) and was had an overall length of 79 in 10 in (24.33 m). In 1924 when HHRR sold five engines, this one went to the Newaukum Valley Railroad in Washington where it was renumbered #1000. In 1944 it was sold to the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, and in 1958 it was donated to the Travel Town museum in Los Angeles, California.
/Cooke in 1921, construction number 62965. This engine saw service on HHRR through the raising of the dam in the 1930s, then in 1937 it was sold to Weyerhaeuser
who moved it to Vail, Washington and gave it #100. In 1948 Weyerhaeuser moved it to Sutherlin, Oregon
where it rests in Central Park (43.39063°N 123.30926°W).
In November 2007, talks began between the City of Sutherlin and (OTM) Oregon Transportation Museum's owner Don Kirk, to relocate his museum to Sutherlin. Those talks specified, that if the museum relocates to Sutherlin, the city would agree to OTM looking at #100's fitness for a possible full operating condition restoration, for use in museum tourist excursion service.
Hetch Hetchy #6 is a three truck 167200 pounds (75,840.6 kg) Class C Shay locomotive
built in 1921. Hetch Hetchy Railroad Engine No.6 was added to the National Register of Historic Places
, in 1978.
in 1903, leased to the HHR during construction of the dam, and then sold to Standard Lumber (which became Pickering Lumber) in 1924. It was sold to Connel Brothers Trucking around 1962 and then to the Pacific Locomotive Association
in 1966. It is currently stored out of service at the Niles Canyon Railway
.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
Class III
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
railroad constructed by the City of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
to support the construction and expansion of the O'Shaughnessy Dam
O'Shaughnessy Dam
The O'Shaughnessy Dam is a curved gravity dam on the Tuolumne River in the Hetch Hetchy Valley of California's Sierra Nevada. The dam is located in Yosemite National Park, and creates the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. It is named for former San Francisco chief engineer and the original chief engineer of...
across Hetch Hetchy Valley
Hetch Hetchy Valley
Hetch Hetchy Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in California. It is currently completely flooded by O'Shaughnessy Dam, forming the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The Tuolumne River fills the reservoir. Upstream from the valley lies the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. The reservoir...
.
Based in Groveland
Groveland-Big Oak Flat, California
Groveland-Big Oak Flat is a former census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 3,388 at the 2000 census...
, the HHRR operated from 1917 to 1949. It primarily carried construction crews and materials, but also took excursion passengers, freight, and mail. The line extended from its western terminus at Hetch Hetchy Junction (a junction with the Sierra Railroad
Sierra Railroad
The Sierra Railroad Company a privately owned common carrier which has a freight division which handles all track maintenance and freight operations for all branches owned by the Sierra Railroad Company...
at Sierra milepost 26, 1000 feet (304.8 m) elevation at 37.802°N 120.488°W), topping out at Poopenaut Pass at 5064 feet (1,544 m) elevation (37.9012°N 119.8381°W), to its eastern terminus at about 3800 feet (1,158.2 m) elevation on the rim of the Hetch Hetchy Valley (est. 37.947°N 119.783°W) above the construction site.
The mountainous terrain resulted in steep grades
Grade (geography)
This article is for the grade of a topographic feature or constructed element, for other uses see: Slope The grade of a physical feature, topographic landform or constructed element, refers to the amount of inclination of that surface to the horizontal...
(over 4%) and extremely sharp curves (30 degrees
Degree of curvature
Degree of curve or degree of curvature is a measure of curvature of a circular arc used in civil engineering for its easy use in layout surveying....
, a 190 feet (57.9 m) radius), requiring trains to move slowly, at speeds of less than 8 miles per hour (12.9 km/h).
Construction of O'Shaughnessy Dam
With the passage of the Raker ActRaker Act
The Raker Act was an act of the United States Congress that permitted building of the O'Shaughnessy Dam and flooding of Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is named for John E. Raker, its chief sponsor...
in 1913, San Francisco began to plan to tap the Tuolumne River
Tuolumne River
The Tuolumne River is a California river that flows nearly from the central Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley...
watershed for water and power. A key element of the plan was a new reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, but access to the area was poor, so a railroad was planned. The first 9 miles (14.5 km) were completed in 1915, and the remaining 59 miles (95 km) were completed by October 1917. Construction costs for the HHRR were about US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
3 million, far less than what the city might have paid contractors to transport concrete and other materials for the dam over the rough terrain.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad operated as a common carrier from July 1918 to February 1925 while the dam was under construction. As a common carrier it was subject to rules of the California Railroad Commission, so there are published time tables and tariffs for this period. However, unlike most common carriers, the president of the railroad was San Francisco Mayor James Rolph
James Rolph
James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr. was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to a single term as the 27th governor of California from January 6, 1931 until his death on June 2, 1934 at the height of the Great Depression...
, and the vice president and general manager was the construction project's chief engineer Michael M. O'Shaughnessy. Revenue to support operation of the railroad was generated by charging timber companies and others along the line for freight. The line also carried mail for those in the area.
Since the support of the public in San Francisco was essential to the remote construction project's success, excursion trains were run to the site. For about US$30, passengers would board a sleeper car in San Francisco on Friday night, crossing California's Central Valley overnight, then boarding Hetch Hetchy line excursion cars on Saturday morning. Tourists spent two days viewing the construction site and the surrounding forest, spending Saturday night in bunkhouses and eating meals prepared on site. On Sunday afternoon they boarded the train for the trip back down the mountain, met the sleeper cars for the Sunday night valley crossing, and arrived back in San Francisco on Monday morning in time to go to work.
Raising the O'Shaughnessy Dam
Between 1934 and 1938 the line was pressed back into construction service while the height of the dam was increased from 364 feet (110.9 m) to the present 430 feet (131.1 m) above bedrock. Since repairs were necessary before the line could again haul heavy freight to support construction hauling, and it was the height of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, an Emergency Relief Act provided about 600 workers to refurbish the line. Operations of the restored line were turned over to the Sierra Railway, and the reconstituted railroad started operations May 13, 1935, with a train of four cars powered by Sierra engines #30 and #32.
Decline and deconstruction
The amount of freight that remained to be hauled after construction activity ceased in 1938 was not sufficient to continue using steam engines; gasoline locomotives were used instead. Rain washouts and difficulties clearing heavy snowfalls made winter operations very difficult. The station at Hetch Hetchy Junction was removed in 1938. Sidings and spurs were ripped up and the steel sold to support the war effort in the early 1940s, and structures in Groveland were removed in 1944. Roads into the area improved, and with low usage the railroad tracks deteriorated. In 1949, the entire line was dismantled.An abandoned HHRR bridge across the Tuolumne River was removed between 1967 and 1971 to clear the canyon for the expansion of Lake Don Pedro.
Several parts of the railroad's right-of-way were used for roadbeds: State Highway 120
California State Route 120
State Route 120 , in northern California, runs between the Central Valley near Manteca, through Yosemite National Park, and ends at U.S. Route 6 in Mono County.-Route description:...
in Big Oak Flat, and Cherry Oil Road to Camp Mather and beyond to the O'Shaughnessy Dam.
Stations
- Milepost 50 — Jones Station — The site is marked by an old apple tree. In 2004, volunteers with metal detectors found stove parts, several nails indicating building locations, cans, buttons, cooking implements, and many other artifacts.
Locomotives
Seven locomotives saw regular service. Six were owned by the HHRR and one was leased from the Sierra Railroad.Hetch Hetchy Railroad #2
The Heisler locomotiveHeisler 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...
that would eventually become Pickering Lumber #2 was one of the first locomotives purchased when San Francisco began buying for the HHRR in 1917. Built in 1918, it may have worked tender to tender with Hetch Hetchy #4. In 1923 #2 was sold to Standard Lumber Company which became Pickering Lumber.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad #3
BaldwinBaldwin 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...
#35780 was built in 1910 and saw first service as Youngstown & Ohio River #1. It became Hetch Hetchy Railroad #3 in 1919. In 1927, about three years after HHRR passenger service was discontinued, this engine was sold and transported to Grants Pass
Grants Pass, Oregon
-Rogue River:The Rogue River runs through Grants Pass.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,003 people, 9,376 households, and 5,925 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 9,885 housing units at an average density of 1,303.3 per square mile . By 2008,...
to became California & Oregon Coast #301. In 1941 it became Ideal Cement Company #301, which was retired around 1950.
The numbers for HHRR #3: 2-8-2
2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
, cylinders with 21 inches (53.3 cm) bore and 24 inches (61 cm) stroke, 46 inches (116.8 cm) drivers, 165 pound per square inches (1.1 MPa) boiler pressure, 167000 pounds (75.7 MT) total weight, 131000 pounds (59.4 MT) on drivers, 31330 pound-forces (139.36 kN) TE
Tractive effort
As used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad #4
Hetch Hetchy Railroad #4 was built in 1920 by American Locomotive CompanyAmerican Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
. This 2-8-2
2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
Mikado had cylinders with 20 inches (50.8 cm) bore and 28 inches (71.1 cm) stroke, 48 inches (121.9 cm) drivers, weighed 97 short tons (88 MT) and was had an overall length of 79 in 10 in (24.33 m). In 1924 when HHRR sold five engines, this one went to the Newaukum Valley Railroad in Washington where it was renumbered #1000. In 1944 it was sold to the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, and in 1958 it was donated to the Travel Town museum in Los Angeles, California.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad #5
Hetch Hetchy #5 is a 2-6-2 built by AlcoAmerican Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
/Cooke in 1921, construction number 62965. This engine saw service on HHRR through the raising of the dam in the 1930s, then in 1937 it was sold to Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
who moved it to Vail, Washington and gave it #100. In 1948 Weyerhaeuser moved it to Sutherlin, Oregon
Sutherlin, Oregon
Sutherlin is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 6,669 at the 2000 census. Nearby features include Cooper Creek Reservoir, the Umpqua River, a few golf courses, and numerous vineyards.-Geography:...
where it rests in Central Park (43.39063°N 123.30926°W).
In November 2007, talks began between the City of Sutherlin and (OTM) Oregon Transportation Museum's owner Don Kirk, to relocate his museum to Sutherlin. Those talks specified, that if the museum relocates to Sutherlin, the city would agree to OTM looking at #100's fitness for a possible full operating condition restoration, for use in museum tourist excursion service.
Hetch Hetchy Railroad #6
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...
built in 1921. Hetch Hetchy Railroad Engine No.6 was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, in 1978.
Sierra Railroad #12
Sierra #12 is the oldest three truck Shay in existence. It was built for the Sierra RailroadSierra Railroad
The Sierra Railroad Company a privately owned common carrier which has a freight division which handles all track maintenance and freight operations for all branches owned by the Sierra Railroad Company...
in 1903, leased to the HHR during construction of the dam, and then sold to Standard Lumber (which became Pickering Lumber) in 1924. It was sold to Connel Brothers Trucking around 1962 and then to the Pacific Locomotive Association
Pacific Locomotive Association
The Pacific Locomotive Association is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the physical aspects and atmosphere of Pacific Coast railroading during the period from 1910 to 1960....
in 1966. It is currently stored out of service at the Niles Canyon Railway
Niles Canyon Railway
The Niles Canyon Railway is a heritage railway running through Niles Canyon, between Sunol and the Niles district of Fremont in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, USA. The railway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Niles Canyon Transcontinental...
.
