SHAY DAY ON THE YOSEMITE MOUNTAIN SUGAR PINE RAILROAD
| September 29, 2018 08:39AM |
It has been many years since a special train for photographers has operated on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. The line has a pair of 3-truck Shay locomotives from the West Side Lumber Company. Number 10 was built in 1928 and No. 15 was built in 1913. The railroad is located on Highway 41 near the South Entrance to Yosemite National Park. It is only about 50 miles southeast – as the crow flies – from Tuolumne, home of the West Side Lumber Company. This is as close as anyone can get to seeing operable WSL Shays in their natural environment.
On Sunday, October 28, 2018, both locomotives will be out for a private excursion that begins at 1:00 PM and continues through the afternoon. Each locomotive will make an individual trip over the line with its own train. There will be multiple photo runbys and staged opportunities with both locomotives. The finale will be a doubleheader that also features runbys. Both locomotives will be posed together at the depot for photos at the end of the day.
This is a trip for railroad photographers, not the general public. If you don’t understand what it is, please don’t purchase tickets. The railroad’s grounds will be closed to the public and only ticket purchasers will be permitted to enter and park. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for hiking in a rugged forest at 4,800 feet in the mountains. The trip operates rain or shine. Trains will return to the depot periodically during the afternoon for restroom breaks. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $75.00 each, plus a $1.00 service charge. Only 75 are available. All sales are final. Go to the railroad’s website: [ymsprr.com] and click “Buy Tickets Online.” You’ll find “SHAY DAY PHOTO SPECIAL” on October 28th. No tickets will be sold by phone or mail. You will need to bring a printout of your ticket receipt for admission to the grounds and a parking pass.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is less than 90 minutes from the railroad and has direct flights to many cities. The railroad is less than a 5-hour drive from Los Angeles or the Bay Area. Ample lodging is available in Oakhurst, which is 20 minutes away. The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau can assist with booking a room and other area information. Go to: [www.YosemiteThisYear.com].
There will be a photo contest after the excursion to select two photos for the railroad’s 2019 brochure; one for the cover and one for the inside. The winning photographer will receive two tickets for the “Moonlight Special” barbecue train during the summer of 2019. This train operates on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Details for submitting the photos will be available at the event.
We look forward to seeing you for a fun day at YMSP on October 28th!
On Sunday, October 28, 2018, both locomotives will be out for a private excursion that begins at 1:00 PM and continues through the afternoon. Each locomotive will make an individual trip over the line with its own train. There will be multiple photo runbys and staged opportunities with both locomotives. The finale will be a doubleheader that also features runbys. Both locomotives will be posed together at the depot for photos at the end of the day.
This is a trip for railroad photographers, not the general public. If you don’t understand what it is, please don’t purchase tickets. The railroad’s grounds will be closed to the public and only ticket purchasers will be permitted to enter and park. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for hiking in a rugged forest at 4,800 feet in the mountains. The trip operates rain or shine. Trains will return to the depot periodically during the afternoon for restroom breaks. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $75.00 each, plus a $1.00 service charge. Only 75 are available. All sales are final. Go to the railroad’s website: [ymsprr.com] and click “Buy Tickets Online.” You’ll find “SHAY DAY PHOTO SPECIAL” on October 28th. No tickets will be sold by phone or mail. You will need to bring a printout of your ticket receipt for admission to the grounds and a parking pass.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is less than 90 minutes from the railroad and has direct flights to many cities. The railroad is less than a 5-hour drive from Los Angeles or the Bay Area. Ample lodging is available in Oakhurst, which is 20 minutes away. The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau can assist with booking a room and other area information. Go to: [www.YosemiteThisYear.com].
There will be a photo contest after the excursion to select two photos for the railroad’s 2019 brochure; one for the cover and one for the inside. The winning photographer will receive two tickets for the “Moonlight Special” barbecue train during the summer of 2019. This train operates on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Details for submitting the photos will be available at the event.
We look forward to seeing you for a fun day at YMSP on October 28th!
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.