| The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad was
built from the Central Pacific Railroad depot in Colfax,
CA. to Grass Valley and Nevada City. Traveling the
roads by horseback or stagecoach could take the better part
of a day and importing the heavy timber and mining equipment
for the local mines was hard enough when the weather was
good but the dirt roads were near impassable in the winter. Construction
was begun on February 11, 1875 and the last spike was driven
on May 20, 1876.
For the next 66 years, the NCNGRR (affectionately called
the “Never Come, Never
Go) was the prime method of shipping freight and passengers between Nevada
County and the Southern (ex Central) Pacific rail connection
in Colfax. |
| The first three engines were wood burners, built for the
NCNGRR by Baldwin Locomotive Co. All the NCNGRR engines were converted to oil by 1916. The
engine roster:
Engine #1 4-4-0 named the “Grass Valley”
Engine #2 2-6-0 named the “Nevada”
Engine #3 4-4-0 purchased in 1877, a twin of #1 but never named
Engine #4 0-6-0 purchased in 1899 from Lake Tahoe Railroad
Engine #5 2-6-0 purchased in 1889 from Lake Tahoe Railroad
Engine #6 2-6-0 purchased in 1915
Engine #7 4-4-0 purchased from Southern Pacific
Engine #8 2-8-0 came from the Denver & Rio Grande in 1933
Engine #9 2-8-0 came from the Southern Pacific in 1933 |
| The NCNGRR had two gas mechanical switchers,
#10, a 0-4-0 Plymouth which was acquired and wrecked in 1936,
and #11, a 0-4-0 Whitcomb. Two standard gauge engines,
a two truck Heisler and two truck Climax, operated around
1913 on dual gauge track from Colfax to a gravel spur on
the Bear River.
In its' short time, the NCNGRR had many ups and downs. The
railroad was home to the highest railroad trestles and bridges
in California and the world's first female railroad owner,
Sara Kidder. There were several problems including
trestle fires, tunnel cave-ins, and even the wreck of a circus train in 1883. For
66 years, it was the fastest way for passengers to get to San Francisco and
other points served by the Southern Pacific from the Colfax depot. It
not only brought the necessities of life from the outside world, but transported
miners and citizens to various picnics and events and also shipped out produce,
timber, and gold.
Improved roads and better trucks, busses, and private cars led to the suspension
of passenger service in 1938. The NCNGRR continued freight service up
until July 10, 1942 when the doors were closed forever. |
