Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad
infobox rail
railroad_name=Roaring Camp Railroads
logo_filename=Roaring_camp_big_trees_logo.gif
logo_size=100
marks=RCBT
locale=Santa Cruz County, California
start_year=1963
end_year=present
gauge=3 ft (914 mm)
old_gauge=
hq_city=Felton, CaliforniaThe Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad is a narrow gauge tourist railroad in California that starts from the Roaring Camp depot in Felton, California and runs up steep grades to the top of nearby Bear Mountain, a distance of about 2.5 miles. The travel is through second-growth redwood forest.
History
Roaring Camp Railroads operations began in 1963 under the guidance of F. Norman Clark (1935-1985), who was the founder and owner. Clark's wife, Georgiana, assumed the ownership and management responsibilities following his death.
Originally, two large trestles formed a "corkscrew" loop at Spring Canyon, but these were destroyed by a 1976 fire. Within six months, a switchback was constructed to bypass the severed loop and the entire line was returned to service. The length of the tail tracks in the switchback restricts the trains that may be operated to six cars or fewer.
Locomotives
The railroad owns several locomotives in various states of repair. Regular service is typically handled by the railroad's two Shays locomotives, with occasional appearances by the Heisler. 0-4-2T "Kahuku," the oldest locomotive on the roster, is used in shuttle service on special occasions. Due to its small size, it is not capable of hauling trains up the mountain.
Access to the operation
The railroad parking lot may be accessed directly from Graham Hill Road off State Highway 9. The standard-gauge Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway reaches the railroad from Santa Cruz. Visitors to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which contains large old-growth redwood trees, picnic facilities, and river beachfront, may easily walk to the train operation.
See also
* Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway
External links
*
*
* [http://www.ddavid.com/alongdesire/us5.htm Roaring Camp Railroads] A personal visit in 2006 with photographs
r
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2010.
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