Diamond and Caldor Railway
Encyclopedia
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 locomotive
s. 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.
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
36" narrow gauge railroad operating in El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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 locomotive
Shay locomotive
The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive...
s. 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
Diamond Springs, California
Diamond Springs is a census-designated place in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,037 at the 2010 census, up from 4,888 at the 2000 census. The town is registered as...
(located near Placerville
Placerville, California
Placerville is the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,389 at the 2010 census, up from 9,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
) and went east along the North Fork of the Cosumnes River
Cosumnes River
The Cosumnes River is a river in northern California in the United States. It rises on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and flows approximately into the Central Valley, emptying into the Mokelumne River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.-Name:...
and then to Caldor
Caldor, California
Caldor is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California. It lies at an elevation of 4442 feet . Caldor was linked to Diamond Springs by the Diamond and Caldor Railway....
.
The railroad was a subsidiary of the California Door Company of Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. 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
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
regulations. The railroad failed to comply with the ICC requirement to have railroad cars equipped with air brakes
Air brake (rail)
An air brake is a conveyance braking system actuated by compressed air. Modern trains rely upon a fail-safe air brake system that is based upon a design patented by George Westinghouse on March 5, 1872. The Westinghouse Air Brake Company was subsequently organized to manufacture and sell...
and automatic couplers
Coupling (railway)
A coupling is a mechanism for connecting rolling stock in a train. The design of the coupler is standard, and is almost as important as the railway gauge, since flexibility and convenience are maximised if all rolling stock can be coupled together.The equipment that connects the couplings to the...
. 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