Re: Larch Track Layout

Rich, you will notice two different spurs. The one to the upper right just seems to dead end along a ridge, but does not appear to be a loading location. The spur to the left next to one leg of the wye might have been used for loading or a storage place for the steam shovel so the other tracks were clear for normal operation. Larch was a busy spot as freight trains doubled the hill from both directions and a helper engine often accompanied the East bound moves which were mainly loads of lumber or logs. Obviously meets there as well. The tail track of the wye is a huge dead end cut into the ridge which may have been enlarged and lengthened as the years went by. The material is sort of a decomposed granite. It probably was not ideal for ballast due to the fines, but better than just soil. Jim Grigsby may have some thoughts on this. He was the one that showed it to me years back. You can speed by on the hwy and never notice the wye area as the hwy drops away so fast on the S. side of the summit. Here is a couple shot of the wye tail track which is getting more overgrown each year. The second shot is farther back in and still not to the back wall.