Re: Converse Basin Redux

On our way to Millwood, we pass the most extensive rock blasting on the Sequoia Railroad ROW:


After about 6 miles of railroad grade (easily driven in an auto- no 4x4 required), we arrive at Millwood. At this location the lumber was sorted, a small mill did some final cutting, and then a 62 mile long flume carried the lumber down to the Kings River and on to Sanger. Here's what Millwood looked like at the turn of the last century (from Calisphere):

The Sequoia Railroad entered the town from the upper left. You can see a locomotive with a train coming downgrade into the town. A switchback was used to bring the lumber down to the yard where it would be sorted and piled. There were no turning facilities for the Shay so it pushed empties uphill to the Converse Hoist and then ran forward with loads down to Millwood. The buildings behind the train are the warehouse and store on the left, and the horse barn on the right.

Here's a photo from approximately the same place today:

The riparian area of Mill Creek has reclaimed the lumber yard and town that once existed here...
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Here's a photo of part of the flume heading downhill towards Sanger:


More later...