Re: More Bodie & Benton Questions

As far as I can tell they graded, but never laid rails on the Benton Extension. The logging branches (there were at least two) were south of Mono Mills, across today’s highway.

Bodie’s boom only lasted 4 years, but the town had a long productive period, up to nearly WWII. The lines traffic was mostly firewood, with a smaller traffic in mine timbers. The town of Bodie is pretty high at 8,400 feet (above tree line). Its cold. Firewood was used for both home heating and for fuel for the mills. The Standard Mill at Bodie was electrified in 1893 in one of the first long distance power transmission projects (at 12.5 miles).

Other goods inbound, and the mine products were shipped via wagon. Bodie was gold country, and is much more easily processed than silver or lead bearing ores.

The lime kiln is small, only one oven, and some distance away from the railroad (200 yards + from memory) and probably gave its name to the site, but did not ship via the line (it did not have a spur)

There were 4 locomotives, a Baldwin, 2 Union Iron works, and a really ugly Porter Tank engine…. Notes at home, also, their history has been confused in some of the published material, so be careful. It is possible that some of the locos gained or lost lead trucks…

Randy Hees