Elizabeth and I awoke at the Baymont Inn in Fort Bragg and went to David's Restaurant for a good meal before I drove Highway 20 to Willits for the 10:30 AM Wolf Creek Turn.
California Western Railroad HistoryThe railroad was originally built by the Fort Bragg Redwood Company as the Fort Bragg Railroad in 1885 to carry coast redwood logs from the dense forests at Glenela (Glen Blair) to a newly built lumber mill located 6.6 miles to the west at coastal Fort Bragg, California. Fort Bragg Redwood Company was incorporated into the new Union Lumber Company in 1904; the railroad ownership always rested with the parent lumber company until 1969. On July 1, 1905 the railroad was renamed the California Western Railroad & Navigation Company. In 1904 passenger service was added, and on December 11, 1911, the route was completed to its total length of 40 miles roughly following the Noyo River, to interchange connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in the inland town of Willits, California.
On December 19, 1947, the railroad name was shortened to the California Western Railroad. Union Lumber and its California Western Railroad came under the ownership of the various lumber producers, including Boise Cascade (1969) and later Georgia-Pacific Corporation. G-P initially leased the CWR's operations to Kyle Railways, but in June 1987, the CWR was sold to the Kyle Railways subsidiary Mendocino Coast Railway. Mendocino Coast Railway continued to operate the CWR under the California Western name.
No longer able to make a profit when the G-P mill began to reduce operations and finally closed altogether, Kyle Railways opted to sell the financially-starved CWR. On December 17, 2003, the California Western Railroad was rescued when it was bought by the Sierra Railroad. Today the Skunk Train is owned and operated by Mendocino Railway.
We walked into the depot to pick up our tickets for this unique trip and Elizabeth's first ride on this railroad. All pictures by Elizabeth Guenzler since mine did not turn out for some reason.
Northwestern Pacific Railroad/California Western Willits depot built in 1915.
A California Western mural.
California Western GP9E 64, ex. Kyle 1750, exx. Southern Pacific 3311, exxx. Southern Pacific 3444, nee Southern Pacific 5607, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1955.
The station from across the tracks.
California Western M100 built by Edwards Rail Car Company in 1925. It was acquired from the Morehead and North Fork Railroad of Kentucky.
California Western coach 698, nee Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, built by Pullman Company in 1920 and converted to "High Roof" M.U. trailer 1930.
At 10:30 AM, we departed Willits station at 1,364 feet above sea level.
We took the switch off the Northwestern Pacific and passed Willits water tower.
In the Roots of Motive Power yard was Baldo Locomotive Works 2-6-2 4, ex. Fred Kepner collection in Merrill, Oregon, exx. Gene Autry 1957, exxx. scrap dealer in Pittsburg, California 1955, exxx. Long Bell Lumber Company 4 1926, nee Weed Lumber Company 4, built by Baldwin in 1907.
About to cross California Highway 20.
A look back down the grade.
Looking ahead.
A rear-facing scene.
Different types of vegetation.
Ascending the grade to Tunnel 2.
We rolled through Rodgers at 1,433 feet above sea level.
Rolling through the west switch at Rodgers.
Still climbing towards Tunnel 2. We then descended to Crowley.
Homer Haywood and a wooden bear.
At Crowley we were let off for fifteen minutes.
The engine would run around the train.
California Western 64 pulled past the switch.
Next the engine would run around its train, after which everyone reboarded.
The climb to Tunnel 2 as seen from the rear of the train.
The western portal of Tunnel 2, 795 feet in length and built in 1911.
The light at the west end.
The eastern tunnel portal.
We passed through Rodgers.
Crossing a trestle east of Rodgers.
Descending the eastern grade.
Rolling down the grade.
Central California scenery.
Rolling into Willits.
The welcome sign that reads "Willits-Gateway to the Redwoods".
Crossing another creek.
The Willits water tower.
Ready to curve onto the Northwestern Pacific.
Back onto the Northwestern Pacific.
The trestle bridge over a creek.
The yard in Willits. We detrained at the station after a most enjoyable excursion and I drove us to Ukiah.
Northwestern Pacific Ukiah station built in 1929.
The station plaque. We continued on to Geyserville.
Northwestern Pacific Geyserville station, year of construction unknown. Our next stop was in Healdsburg.
Northwestern Pacific Healdsburg built in 1891. Our penultimate station was in Kenwood.
Southern Pacific Kenwood station, originally South Los Guilucos, built with locally-quarried basalt in 1888. It was the only stone station on the 36.7 miles Northern Pacific Railway line which ran through the Sonoma Valley from Napa Junction to Santa Rosa.
The station plaque. From here, we drove to our last station of the day in Sonoma.
Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator car 4636, builder and year unknown.
Southern Pacific caboose 1130, built by the railroad in 1942.
Northwestern Pacific Sonoma station built in 1880 and was rebuilt in 1977 after destruction by fire and wind in the 1970's.
The Sonoma station plaque was in the ground and the shadows from the trees made it difficult to photograph legibly. Elizabeth then drove us to Jersey Mike's in Cordelia before we checked into the Best Western for the night.
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