As an update to a previous post I spent the holiday weekend up in Sonora. Saturday was spent following the former Pickering Lumber Co right of way up to Soap Creek Pass which suprisingly has many buildings intact along with foundations and rail, ties, spikes everywhere. Peeled Onion is accessable by hiking or ATV.
Now onto the West Side. After coming off the hill I went to the property knowing that there was a community fair and car show at the site. This took place in the area of the RV park. Most of the sites were graded and straw placed on the dirt. Lots of vendors and cars. Went on a hike to see the rest of the property after getting permission from the tribal security (a must!).
The main depot / bookstore / icecream parlor that Bell had built is all restored and houses the indian's administration offices. Water tank is standing and cleaned up to show the "WestSide" logo. Boat landing is still in place, gas station foundation remains. Bell's engine house is all cleaned up with new windows, siding replacement and re-roofed. Drywall is going up inside. New Pole barn is located where the log camp wharehouse used to stand just to the south on the Hetch Hetchy lead to the old depot which still stands. Log pond is very low and Turnback Creek is a mosquito breeding ground. Flotilla / winch house is collapsing as winch is too heavy for the rotten timbers. The log dump brow is still visible and nearby I found the spar pole that was used to assist the winch in dumping the logs into the pond. It still has rigging on it.
Near the Forestry station entrance the tribe has stockpiled dirt from excavations for its new multiple storey casino down the road. A community center has been built on the gate where the Sierra ROW went into Tuolomne proper. New water system is in place along with fire hydrants located througout the property.
The old company offices are being gutted and are to be restored and offered for reuse in some capacity. Just east of the mill gate entrance is the new tribal medical center. All of the buildings are or look like wood sided and architecturally blend in well with the surroundings including the dark green paint.
I mentioned earlier about the Hetch Hetchy Depot
and I want to tell you about what is left of the old engine house / truck shops and repair shops.
The HH&YV engine house is not in good shape at all. Since my last visit about three years ago, teh clerestory roof is starting to collapse into the building. Inside is lots of junk from Brad Milne, along with artifacts from the West Side, including, the parts room with nuts, bolts & washers still in the bins. Pullys and shafts, axles etc. are there also. Carpenter shop is littered with junk. Car repair shop is in a little better shape but not much. Most of Brad Milne's equipment is around but not the Rogers locomotive or the little flats. Oil Tank #6 is still there along with another oil or water tank body. Two box or commisary cars are there in the yard also.
Milne had pulled up alot of rail including the wye for turning the shays. Much of the rail went into the 5 miles of track still in the ground from Baker to River Bridge. Ground throws & switch stands are inside the car repair shops as are frogs etc. The oil and sanding facility is still near the mill gate, but water tank is long gone. Several old Shay oil tanks are stored there.
While most of us are still waiting to see what happens to the property and rails, the folks I talked to said some portion of the railroad is included in the tribal master plan on file with the county. It could include the mile of track from the mill site up to Baker's siding (closest too the casino) to shuttle gamblers and the likes up to it. As for the dispute with the Sierra, that would most likely become a trail.
And what would a report be with out mention of the # 2, languishing away in the park at Tuolomne with the remains of the water pipe that filled the #3 and many other Sierra lokies up just at the end of the block where the depot once sat.
I took much digital video which I should burn on a DVD and make available to you all if interested. Stay tuned as the next day (Sunday) was spent going to River Bridge and Camp 45.
Jeff
