Placerville Branch Inspection Run

From:	RRC President
Subject:	Today on the Placerville Branch
Date:	June 7, 2008

View Slideshow from Placerville Branch Inspection Run

The historic Placerville Branch, formerly of the SP Railroad, has been unused since the late 80’s. Folsom, El Dorado, Sacramento Historical Society (FEDS) is the operational manager of this 30+ mile line into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Years ago the final 3-4 miles of rail on the corridor were removed by El Dorado County for the purpose of establishing a walking trail. A quick inspection of the western end of that “trail” reveals that it is simply an overgrown dirt path which shows no evidence of maintenance. The railroad had been sold to a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) which now owns the corridor. The JPA consists of some cities, counties and a Transportation Agency. The JPA wisely arranged, some years ago, for FEDS to preserve the rails in the same fashion as does RRC on its 2 railroads.

The leadership of both FEDS and RRC/RRCHS agreed recently to work together to create a collaboration of mutual support. FEDS is focused on drawing together the resources to create an excursion train sometime in the future. RRC is focused on speeder activities and has developed a level of rail science with knowledge of rail installation.

Today, RRC collaborated with FEDS to arrange a work day on the Placerville Branch designed to introduce a consist of 13 speeders for the multi-purposes of inspecting the corridor and preparing a spur at the east end of the railroad which could be used as a turning/set-on/set off site. Additionally the speeder operators were to present their mini-locomitives as legitimate rail traffic which would enhance the public relations of the railroad, the JPA and FEDS.

Thirteen speeders departed the hamlet of Shingle Springs, CA. today to run the 7 mile section on this winding, mountain railroad. This east most section had not seen a consist of speeders in years. A GPS unit was to measure the approximately 7 miles of tracks, however, it became disabled and was not available to accurately measure the run.

The condition of the rails is excellent. FEDS has done a masterful job of maintaining the steel. The primairy problem exists at the paved crossings where El Dorado County has paved over the flangeways making rail crossings difficult.

The canopy of oak trees covering the corridor is nothing less than beautiful. The topography of the corridor is not unlike the historic Amador Central Railroad between Martell and Ione, CA. The major difference is the abundance of trees and the consistent size and condition of the rails.

Today was a work day for the RRC/FEDS collaboration. It appeared to be an excursion, however, there was flangeway cleaning and scrub oak cutting and trimming to be accomplished. All along the route the neighboring property owners waved and looked longingly at the colorful speeders as we slowly moved up-country to the end of the line.

This section of the Placerville Branch has not seen speeder traffic in a long time. Interested passers-by stopped at the set-on/set-off site which was the Shingle Springs railroad yard historically. Today there is little to indicate the size and scope of that yard. The old depot has been rebuilt and is now a produce store. Three residences are under reconstruction which were the former Yard Master, Road Master & Paymasters domiciles. The current owner plans to rent these historic old buildings to tenants in the near future.

The future of Shingle Springs & the Placerville Branch is bright. The need of the members of the JPA, on that east most section, is to clear the flangeways with a concrete saw to allow increased rail traffic which brings rail tourists to the area. Today’s inspection run brought rail fans from the Bay Area and the greater Sacramento area. Additional functions on the Placerville Branch will be an attraction for the legions of rail fans who travel great distances to experience life on the rails.

Larry Bowler