NEVADA COUNTY NARROW GAUGE - Its Real History - 1874 to 1942

The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad (NCNG) was incorporated in 1874 to connect the gold -mining towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley to the newly constructed Central Pacific (CP), later named Southern Pacific (SP), at Colfax. The NCNG specified 3-foot gauge after learning of the construction costs of the standard gauge CP. Construction got under way in early 1875, and rolling stock was ordered. The principal engineering features of the line were tall trestles over the Bear River and Greenhorn Creek. Rails from Colfax reached Grass Valley in early 1876; regular service began in April of that year to Grass Valley and in May to Nevada City.

In 1908, a line relocation eliminated the trestles and You Bet Tunnel, but required a high steel bridge, as impressive as the trestles had been, over the Bear River. The NCNG was also notable in having a woman, Sara Kidder, as president from 1901 to 1913 - she inherited the majority of the road's stock from her husband, the previous president.

The railroad went through the usual crisis of poor management and competition from trucks, buses, and automobiles. It was reorganized in 1927 under local management. One response to competition was to acquire a number of tank cars to carry oil and gasoline from the Southern Pacific connection at Colfax to Grass Valley and Nevada City. The NCNG was unusual among narrow gauge railroads in that it purchased two second-hand gasoline switchers in 1936.

On May 16, 1937, the railroad hosted a rail-fan excursion, the first on the West Coast. In 1938 the railroad discontinued rail passenger service; the road's own buses had taken most of the passengers. The NCNG became profitable in the late 1930s and even paid dividends. As World War II began, though, the scrap value of the railroad outstripped its transportation value, and the federally ordered closing of the gold mines clinched the matter. The last revenue train ran on July 10, 1942.

from "The Historical Guide to North American Railroads" - Kalmbach Publishing - 1992

CALIFORNIA MIDLAND RAILROAD - Its Real History - 1905 to 1908

In 1905, the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) was formed. Its main shareholders formed the California Midland Railroad in an attempt to build it as an extension of the Nevada County Traction Company from Marysville to Nevada City via Grass Valley. Five 4-4-0 "General" standard gauge steam locomotives and four 66-passenger coaches were purchased and the first tracks were laid outside Marysville in spring of 1906. The first mile of track was laid when the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire nearly forced PG&E into receivership. All work on the railroad was ceased until 1907. Another ten miles of track was laid and land for the station, freight house, and yard area in Grass Valley was purchased. A stock market crash in October, 1907, created too much of a financial barrier and by January, 1908, the California Midland Railroad was for all purposes dead. The Southern Pacific bought the locomotives and passenger cars.

from "Nevada County Narrow Gauge" by Gerald M. Best - Howel North Books, 1965

NEVADA COUNTY TRACTION COMPANY - Its Real History - 1887 to 1925

Although the NCNG was running 5 passenger trains daily between Grass Valley and Nevada City (4 miles apart) by the 1880s, a stage coach line running at 1.5 hour intervals over the main highway was well patronized. The stage coach provided service to the centers of the town, where the train depots were some distance from the business district and required a healthy walk.

Potential interest in an electric railway between the "Twin Cities" began as early as 1887. Two of California's first hydro-electric power plants were nearby - one on Wolf Creek, and one on Deer Creek. The Grass Valley Gas & Electric Company consolidated both plants and was supplying power to both cities. In 1899, intentions to build the line from Nevada City to Marysville were expressed.

The first tie was laid June 5, 1901 and regular service began October 15, 1901. The stage coach line would soon discontinue. After the novelty of the trolley line wore off, the traction line would settle down to a fairly profitable life with little effect on the NCNG. With the coming of the automobile, the life of the Nevada County Traction Company came to an end on January 16,1925.

from "The Historical Guide to North American Railroads" - Kalmbach Publishing - 1992

CALIFORNIA MIDLAND RAILROAD - What If - 1906 to Present

 
My "What If" railroad takes up the history in 1906. (Although, if I had the money and time, I would build them as they were.)

The NCNG, successfully lured business expansion into the region by buying out the land, buildings, and equipment of the standard gauge California Midland shortly after the San Francisco earthquake. This gave the NCNG a connection with the SP at Colfax and a connection with the then Sacramento Northern, later Western Pacific, at Marysville.

Discussions over converting the narrow gauge track to standard soon followed - it took 3 narrow gauge cars to fill one standard gauge car (see photo). Also, it would save time and money by eliminating transfer 
                                                  sheds used to move merchandise between standard 
                                                  and narrow gauge cars.

By the First World War, all track was standard gauge and the railroad took over the name California Midland. 

The Nevada County Traction Company became an inter-city commuter subsidiary of the California Midland. Currently, the year modeled is 1952 - steam locomotives are very much alive, but diesel locomotives are starting to move in.

If you are interested, check my page links above to see my progress.