Amador Central Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Amador Central Railroad was a standard gauge
railroad that operated 11.8 miles (19 km) between a connection with the Southern Pacific Company (SP) at Ione and Martell near the town of Jackson, California
. The carrier served the Sierra Nevada Foothills gold mining communities and hauled lumber products from the El Dorado National Forest. Amador is the name of the county in which the railroad operated.
and then an additional 13 miles (20.9 km) to Volcano, California
. The Ione & Eastern only completed a line to Martell. The railroad survived only four years and was sold at foreclosure
in 1908 and renamed the Amador Central Railroad.
The AMC ran from the terminus of SP's Ione Branch at Ione to Martell.
Trackage, crossings and warning systems remain in place from Ione to the Hwy 88 grade crossing. The line is leased, maintained and used by a group of rail enthusiasts, who own and operate railcar speeder
s on this stretch of scenic track.
An industrial / business park has been laid out in the area just northeast of the Hwy 88 crossing, with underground utilities laid and streets paved, but it remains largely undeveloped. The park is named after the railroad and the streets have related names, such as "Locomotive Lane" and "Boxcar Blvd."
October 27, 2010 the Amador Central Railroad was officially transferred from Sierra Pacific Industries to both the Amador County Historical Society and Recreational Railroad Historical Society jointly at a ceremony in front of the historic 1877-built Southern Pacific Depot in Ione. The groups have met to form a Railroad Management Committee appointing Grant Vogel was unanimously voted to be the Roadmaster and Tom Correa will serve as the deputy Roadmaster. The combined board of directors of both organizations have resurrected the Ione RailFair over the Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29, 2011.
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...
railroad that operated 11.8 miles (19 km) between a connection with the Southern Pacific Company (SP) at Ione and Martell near the town of Jackson, California
Jackson, California
Jackson is the county seat of Amador County, California. The population was 4,651 at the 2010 census, up from 3,989 at the 2000 census...
. The carrier served the Sierra Nevada Foothills gold mining communities and hauled lumber products from the El Dorado National Forest. Amador is the name of the county in which the railroad operated.
History
The Amador Central traces its history back to the Ione & Eastern Railroad. In 1904, the Ione & Eastern proposed to build a 14 miles (22.5 km) line from Ione to Sutter CreekSutter Creek, California
Sutter Creek is a city in Amador County, California, United States. The population was 2,501 at the 2010 census, up from 2,303 at the 2000 census...
and then an additional 13 miles (20.9 km) to Volcano, California
Volcano, California
Volcano is a census-designated place in Amador County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2070 feet . The population was 115 at the 2010 census. It is located at , just north of Pine Grove. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #29...
. The Ione & Eastern only completed a line to Martell. The railroad survived only four years and was sold at foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
in 1908 and renamed the Amador Central Railroad.
Timeline
- April 12, 1904 Ione & Eastern Railroad incorporated
- August 1, 1904 Grading commences
- September 19, 1904 Laying rails commences
- December 25, 1904 First trains operates
- June 15, 1905 Construction completed.
- August 22, 1908 Ione & Eastern sold at foreclosure and to terminate operations at year end
- January 1, 1909 AMC begins operation of line.
- January 1, 1946 AMC leased by Winton Lumber Company
- June 22, 1964 AMC purchased by American Forest Products
- June 1988 AMC acquired by Georgia-PacificGeorgia-PacificGeorgia-Pacific LLC is an American pulp and paper company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products and related chemicals. As of Fall 2010, the company employed more than 40,000 people at more...
- March 28, 1997 AMC's owner, Georgia-Pacific, acquired by Sierra Pacific Industries and last freight train runs.
- 1999 Sierra Pacific Industries reopens line and renames AMC the Amador Foothills Railroad
- May 10, 2004 Last train on the Amador Foothills Railroad operates.
The AMC ran from the terminus of SP's Ione Branch at Ione to Martell.
Legacy
As of October, 2009, all track north and east of the grade crossing on California Highway 88 has been taken up, along with most of the ties and ballast. The main depot in Martell is abandoned and being allowed to deteriorate as it awaits demolition. The nearby locomotive shop shed is being used for storage and automotive repair.Trackage, crossings and warning systems remain in place from Ione to the Hwy 88 grade crossing. The line is leased, maintained and used by a group of rail enthusiasts, who own and operate railcar speeder
Speeder
A speeder is a maintenance of way motorized vehicle formerly used on railroads around the world by track inspectors and work crews to move quickly to and...
s on this stretch of scenic track.
An industrial / business park has been laid out in the area just northeast of the Hwy 88 crossing, with underground utilities laid and streets paved, but it remains largely undeveloped. The park is named after the railroad and the streets have related names, such as "Locomotive Lane" and "Boxcar Blvd."
October 27, 2010 the Amador Central Railroad was officially transferred from Sierra Pacific Industries to both the Amador County Historical Society and Recreational Railroad Historical Society jointly at a ceremony in front of the historic 1877-built Southern Pacific Depot in Ione. The groups have met to form a Railroad Management Committee appointing Grant Vogel was unanimously voted to be the Roadmaster and Tom Correa will serve as the deputy Roadmaster. The combined board of directors of both organizations have resurrected the Ione RailFair over the Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29, 2011.