HUNX Dome Coach #7003

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, this car was built by American Car & Foundry in 1955 as Union Pacific #7003 and assigned to the Challenger between Chicago and Los Angeles. It was sold to Auto-Train in June 1972 and became Auto-Train #703. 

In December 1981 it was sold to James E. Strates Shows and was resold to a private party in 1982 before being acquired by the Collis P. Huntington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society the same year. Initially assigned #800377 and given the name Sandstone Falls, it was later restored in 1993 to its original appearance as HUNX #7003.

NSR Coach #713

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Coach #713 is constructed of aluminum-alloy with polished fluted side panels, and was originally built by American Car & Foundry in 1946 as Louisville & Nashville #3200 for use on the Humming Bird between Cincinnati and New Orleans. It was later sold to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie for commuter service in the Pittsburgh area and became P&LE #400. The P&LE commuter service made its last run on July 12, 1985, and the car was sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society for use with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 and was numbered #713. In 1993, Nickel Plate #765 was taken out of excursion service due to a needed overhaul. This car was subsequently sold to North Star Rail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for use with Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261. As seen here, it was also used for other excursions when not needed for #261.

NSR Coach #711

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Coach #711 is constructed of aluminum-alloy with polished fluted side panels, and was originally built by American Car & Foundry in 1946 as Louisville & Nashville #3203 for use on the Humming Bird between Cincinnati and New Orleans. It was later sold to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie for commuter service in the Pittsburgh area and became P&LE #403. The P&LE commuter service made its last run on July 12, 1985, and the car was sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society for use with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 and was numbered #711. In 1993, Nickel Plate #765 was taken out of excursion service due to a needed overhaul. This car was subsequently sold to North Star Rail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for use with Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261. As seen here, it was also used for other excursions when not needed for #261.

DLMX Baggage Car #5659 "Better Idea"

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, DLMX #5659 Better Idea was built by American Car & Foundry in April, 1954 as Union Pacific Baggage Car #5659. It was renumbered to UP #24427 in April 1969 and to UP Maintenance of Way #904227 in 1975. It was purchased from Union Pacific by the Friends of SP #4449. (According to their website, they purchased it in July, 1997, but here they were using it in June, 1997.)

DLMX Tool Car #5811 "Yes Dear"

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, DLMX Tool Car #5811 Yes Dear was originally Union Pacific RPO/Postal Storage Car #5811. It was one of three built by American Car & Foundry in 1949. Union Pacific transferred it to maintenance of way service as #903672 in 1973. It was sold to Doyle McCormack for use as #4449’s tool car in 1985.

Riding the California Western from Willits to Fort Bragg in 1992

The California Western Railroad was originally built in 1885 by the Fort Bragg Lumber Company as the Fort Bragg Railroad. In 1904, passenger service was inaugurated. On July 1, 1905, the railroad was renamed the California Western Railroad & Navigation Company. The railroad was completed to Willits and a connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad on December 11, 1911.

Self-propelled gas-powered railcars were added for passenger service in 1925, they were nicknamed "skunks" because of the smell of their exhaust. The "skunks" soon took over passenger service, and regular steam-powered passenger train service ended in November 1929.  On December 19, 1947, the name was shortened to California Western Railroad. In June 1987, the California Western was sold to Kyle Railways.

These pictures of California Western motorcar M-300’s control stand were taken on March 18, 1992, as it sat at the depot in Willits, California, waiting for departure time for the return trip to Fort Bragg.

The trip from Fort Bragg to Willits was covered in a previous post.

Here is a view from the train as it approaches Tunnel #2. This tunnel is 795 feet long and was completed in 1911.

Here is a view from the train as it approaches Tunnel #1. The train is on a trestle over the Noyo River right up until it enters the tunnel. The tunnel is 1,100 feet long and was completed in 1893.

Riding the California Western from Fort Bragg to Willits in 1992

The California Western Railroad was originally built in 1885 by the Fort Bragg Lumber Company as the Fort Bragg Railroad. In 1904, passenger service was inaugurated. On July 1, 1905, the railroad was renamed the California Western Railroad & Navigation Company. The railroad was completed to Willits and a connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad on December 11, 1911. Self-propelled gas-powered railcars were added for passenger service in 1925, they were nicknamed "skunks" because of the smell of their exhaust. The "skunks" soon took over passenger service, and regular steam-powered passenger train service ended in November 1929.  On December 19, 1947, the name was shortened to California Western Railroad. In June 1987, the California Western was sold to Kyle Railways.

California Western motorcar M-300 waits in front of the Fort Bragg depot on March 18, 1992, for passengers to board for the trip to Willits. M-300 is a Motorailer built by American Car & Foundry in 1935 as Seaboard Air Line #2026. It was the third of a group of three built for the Seaboard. It became Aberdeen & Rockfish #106 in 1944 and then became Salt Lake, Garfield & Western MC-3 in 1951. It was purchased by the California Western in 1963.

Photo by Cliff West

M-300 is pictured at Northspur. Northspur is the midpoint of the line, where the train makes a brief stop. 

Passengers have the option of remaining in Northspur, where there is a picnic area, and waiting for the train to return from Willits.

Photo by Cliff West

At one point the railroad goes around several horseshoe curves, and another part of the line appears to be a parallel track. This is one of the five horseshoe curves with a total length of 6.5 miles required to climb 932 feet between two points 1.5 miles apart.

Here is a view from the train as it approaches Tunnel #2, the second of the two tunnels on the line. This tunnel is 795 feet long and was completed in 1911.

Photo by Cliff West

Here is the train’s engineer at the controls of the M-300.

Here is the interior of motorcar M-300 as we travelled, showing a light passenger load on a March weekday.

Here is a horse along the line as the train approaches Willits.

As the train enters Willits, the railroad crosses California State Route 20. At this point the highway crosses Broaddus Creek, which parallels the railroad here.

California Western M-300

The California Western Railroad was originally built in 1885 by the Fort Bragg Lumber Company as the Fort Bragg Railroad. In 1904, passenger service was inaugurated. On July 1, 1905, the railroad was renamed the California Western Railroad & Navigation Company. The railroad was completed to Willits and a connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad on December 11, 1911. 

Photo by Cliff West

Self-propelled gas-powered railcars were added for passenger service in 1925, they were nicknamed "skunks" because of the smell of their exhaust. The "skunks" soon took over passenger service, and regular steam-powered passenger train service ended in November 1929.  On December 19, 1947, the name was shortened to California Western Railroad. In June 1987, the California Western was sold to Kyle Railways.

California Western motorcar M-300 is a Motorailer built by American Car & Foundry in 1935 as Seaboard Air Line #2026. It was the third of a group of three built for the Seaboard. It became Aberdeen & Rockfish #106 in 1944 and then became Salt Lake, Garfield & Western MC-3 in 1951. It was purchased by the California Western in 1963.

Photo by Cliff West

Here is a picture of California Western engineer at the controls of the M-300.

Here is a picture of the interior of motorcar M-300.

Finally, here are some pictures of motorcar M-300’s control stand.