Diamond and Caldor Railway

The Diamond and Caldor Railway was a common carrier 36" narrow gauge railroad operating in El Dorado County, California, in the United States. The 34-mile railroad was primarily a logging railroad but also did some passenger service.

The railroad was constructed in 1904 and operations continued until abandonment commenced on April 10, 1953. The railroad primarily operated with Shay locomotives. The remaining Shays, with the excepion of #4, were scrapped in 1953. Engine #4 was displayed at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds for several years and is now in the process of being restored by the El Dorado Western Railway Foundation.

The railroad operated between Diamond Springs, California (located near Placerville) and went east along the North Fork of the Cosumnes River and then to Caldor.

The railroad was a subsidiary of the California Door Company of Oakland. Before a 1923 fire destroyed the mill at Caldor, the line hauled rough-cut lumber from Caldor to the sash and door factory in Diamond Springs. After the company built a modern electric mill at Diamond Springs, the railroad hauled uncut logs from the woods to the new mill.

Because the Diamond & Caldor was a common carrier, it had to comply with Interstate Commerce Commission regulations. The railroad failed to comply with the ICC requirement to have railroad cars equipped with air brakes and automatic couplers. The Diamond and Caldor, according to railroad historian Donald B. Robertson, may be the only western railroad to be put out of business due to those equipment requirements.

See also

• El Dorado Western Railway Foundation A foundation dedicated to preserving the Diamond and Caldor Railway and preserving Shay #4.
• El Dorado Western Railway blog A weblog that chronicles the weekly effort rebuild the Diamond & Caldor No. 4 Shay locomotive.
• Foothill Rails - Diamond & Caldor Locomotive Roster, Maps, History of Line.
• Book about El Dorado County Railroads