Syd Schofield

Editors note: Welcome to the sixth article of a series on narrow gauge by Syd Schofield. The previous article is available by clicking here, or by filtering with the category “Narrow Gauge”. Syd welcomes discussions and feedback, which can be made by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of the post.

Most of the narrow gauge railroads were driven by the advantages of scale. The ability to negotiate tighter curves, smaller tunnels and bridges, narrower roadbed preparation and shorter ties were the chief advantages for narrow gauge lines over standard gauge railroads and became the chief reasons for being. The disadvantages of the accompanying smaller equipment were compensated by longer trains and more frequent service. However, in some remote regions, sparsely populated by industries and humanity, the cheaper infrastructure became the sole advantage as volumes to be transported were thin.

The Carson and Colorado was one such railroad. Located in western Nevada and eastern California, it went from near Carson City to Owens Lake, some 300 hundred miles across some of the most desolate country in the US (although the terrain is easy). During the period of operation from the late 1800s to the early 1900s the railroad serviced the many small mining interests and associated populations along the route. While the route could have been serviced by a standard gauge infrastructure, and was eventually acquired by the mostly standard gauge Southern Pacific railroad, the attraction to narrow gauge was the economy of the infrastructure as well as the rolling stock.

While in the later years the mining industry demands of the region were greatly diminished, the demise of the enterprise was chiefly due to the advent of highways and more efficient and flexible car and truck traffic. Remnants of the railroad can be seen at the interpretive center and museum at Laws, California where there is a preserved town site, typical train, a working gallows turntable and a fully restored and operating motor car. In Independence, California there is a museum of artifacts from the early days of the region and a locomotive from the C and C cum SP undergoing complete-to-operating restoration.