NNG- El Prado, CA Then and Now

El Prado, just north of Clovis, CA was the jumping off point for the San Joaquin and Eastern Railroad which was used on Southern California Edison's Big Creek project to supply power to the LA Basin. While the line was standard gauge, its sharp curves and geared engine roster makes it an honorary narrow gauge in my mind. I was down in Fresno today doing research on the Madera Sugar Pine Railroad and thought I'd visit El Prado to see what was left.

Here's a view in the 1920's by "Pop" Laval of the Friant branch local (on the left) arriving at El Prado as a S J & E train is ready to depart on the right:


And here's the approximate same location today:


The entire area where the depot stood and the S J & E started has been graded smooth, and is now the entrance to someone's McMansion....