Frank's Photography Site

California Western RR - Summer, 1974

These were taken in the summer of 1974, of the California Western tourist line,
which ran through the redwoods in Mendocino County from Willits to Ft. Bragg,
which is a 40-mile run each way. This was one of the last stands
of my Brownie box camera, and since I lost the negatives for these,
I had to use the only set of poor-quality prints I had. Makes it look
like they were taken in a much earlier era, but I wanted to preserve these shots.

"Skunk" steam train at Willits, CA.



M-100 self-propelled rail car at Willits, CA (vintage 1925).



M-300 self-propelled rail car at Willits, CA (vintage 1935).



M-300 self-propelled rail car at Willits, CA.



Switcher #53 at shops, Fort Bragg, CA.



Halfway between Willits & Ft. Bragg, the Northspur rest stop in the redwoods,
while the engine gets a fill-up from the water tank.



Front view of engine at midway point.



Back at Willits, after the round trip to Ft. Bragg,
here are 5 more shots of engine 46 at Willits, CA.
Built by Baldwin in 1937, this mallet was retired in 1981 and
now is part of the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum.













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