On America's railroads, steam-powered trains were unheard of in April of 1975, as steam-powered trains had been more or less dead for nearly 20 years.  But how often in 1975 do you find a steam-powered railroad in action much less, double-headed by two steam engines?  Welcome to California, and the Sierra Railroad!

Granted, back in 1975, I didn't have internet access, or for that matter, I hadn't even heard of the internet.  This article is composed of photographs and field notes taken on that now distant day in April of 1975.

Left:  Number 34 returning to Railtown 1897 from one of the trips that preceeded ours.  Right:  Number 34 is switching in the Jamestown yard.

I had arranged with my boss to get off work an hour or two early, as my former spouse Robbin and I had made reservations to ride the steam-powered Sierra Railroad special, from Jamestown to Chinese Camp, and back to Jamestown, in the scenic foothills of central California.  What we didn't know was that we were in store for a double-powered treat:  A trip powered by two real, live, working and operating steam engines, Sierra Railroad number 28 and number 34.

As far as steam in California during the mid-1970's, it was alive and well, and making a comeback on the Sierra, and other shortline railroads.  Now the Sierra Railroad isn't just an excursion rail, although at the time of this writing owned a total of three working steam engines, and excursion and movie work as a huge source of revenue for them, but they also own a couple of Alco diesel switchers that they use for hauling their mainline freight trains. At the time of this writing, the Sierra Railroad was serving a few warehouses in Sonora, and a few lumber mills in the Chinese Camp and Keystone areas, hauling finished lumber and wood chips.

Photos:  Shots from a trip before ours, as Number 34 swiches cars in the yard.

Getting back to our story, my wife and I arrived at Jamestown, in the middle of Saturday afternoon, April 27, 1975. The Sierra Railroad makes Railtown 1897 its base for excursions, and operated trains east to Sonora, and west as far as Oakdale.  Our excursion was to take us west from Jamestown to Chinese Camp, and back to Jamestown, powered by Number 34, a 2-8-2, which was quite rare, as Number 28, a Baldwin-built 2-8-0 did most of the tourist duties.

At the time, the Sierra Railroad was using old heavyweight commuter coaches, of 1920's vintage, that they had acquired from Southern Pacific, who had ran on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula commuter operation before being replaced by lighter-weight, stainless steel cars.  They also were using a couple of passenger cars that had their tops removed, so they were open to the scenery.  My wife didn't want to sit in an open air car, so I dutifully sat in one of the commuter coaches with her.  But when you're riding behind a steam engine, who cares, as long as you can open the window, saver the sound and smell of the iron horse, and snap a few photos in the process.

Left:  Another switching shot at Jamestown.  Right:  Number 34 heads west, tender first, toward Chinese Camp.

The route from Jamestown, west to Chinese Camp, is a gentle grade, all down hill, through digger pine and oak foothills, with the grass starting to turn golden, but I did wonder how Number 34 was going to pull all six of the heavy cars back up the hill.  But, surprise, surprise as we had a guest waiting for us at Chinese Camp, Number 28 herself, fired-up and ready to go.

Number 34 had powered the train tender-first to Chinese Camp, where Number 28 was waiting on the passing track.  The train passed Number 28, pulled west of the west switch, and stopped at the west switch, where the brakeman jumped off the train, threw the switch, and the engineer backed the train into the siding, and slowly proceeded to couple the train to Number 28.  Then, Number 34 headed through the west switch, the brakeman threw the switch, and Number 28 proceeded light just past the east switch, where the maneuver was repeated, as she resumed her spot at the head of the train, this time facing forward.  Both engines powered the train through the east switch, the switch was thrown, and we enjoyed a pleasant 20 minute ride back to Jamestown.

Left:  Double-heading with Number 34 leading the way, with Number 28, just east of Chinese Camp.  Note that the grass is starting to turn brown here.  Right:  We pass an irrigated pasture, about 4 miles east of Chinese Camp.

I was curious as to why the rare double header, so when we got off the train, as asked one of the brakemen what was going on, as we had enjoyed a pleasant treat.  He told us that Number 28 had been doing some work on a television commercial in the Coopertown area and had finished her movie work early.  Since we were on the last train of the day, and had an exceptional load of fellow tourists, they decided to allow Number 28 to assist on the uphill trip, east to Jamestown.

We were in no question to protest, as we enjoyed spent an ejoyable hour or so riding the Sierra Railroad's steam-powered passenger train... why didn't I take more photos?