Remembering A Narrow Gauge Structure We Lost!

The Rim Fire that raged in the Sierra forest just north of Yosemite 2 years ago destoyed not only timber but also much of the remnants of the West Side Lumber Co. and it's narrow gauge railroad in that area. Totally destroyed were the sites of Camp 44, Camp 45, and Camp Niagra. While the Niagra Bridge (as West Side referred to their trestles) had largely collapsed in the past decade, the timbers of this impressive structure were still intact. No more, however. The Rim Fire wiped away all the timbers and other wooden parts to the trestle leaving only the concrete pilars in the river bottom to mark the site of the once proud Niagra Bridge.

Here is a classic John S. Anderson photo of West Side #12 and caboose #6 crossing Niagra Bridge back in 1958. Today #12 rests at Golden Colorado at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Caboose #6 was recently moved to Nevada City, California and is undergoing restoration at the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Museum.