A SHORT HISTORY AND ROLLING STOCK

Jamestown after Hotel Nevills burned in 1915.  Mainline passenger train 2 on left with 4-4-0 No.6. Angels mixed 22, (without any freight cars), on right with Shay No.11.

The Sierra Railway reached Jamestown from Oakdale  November 1897. On February 1898 work commenced on the routes from Jamestown to Sonora,(mainline), Jacksonville,(Yosemite Short Line), and Angels,(Angels Branch). But due to the right of way acquisition problems with the gold mines and engineering challenges of the Stanislaus River canyon, track laying stopped at Tuttletown till March 1901.

To get through the canyon two switchbacks were constructed. The McArdles switchback on the south side and the Pendola switchback on the north side.

McArldes Switch 1. Left is to Jamestown, right is the reverse track to Switch 2.

                                                               

McArdles Switch 2. Right side is the reverse track to Switch 1.

Between them the Stanislaus River was crossed by a 300 foot trestle and bridge, fifty feet above the river.

No.30 pulling train Mixed 22 w/combine 5.

                                                          Grades were up to 4.15%

Pendola Switch 3. Left side is the reverse track.

First passenger train to Angels was September 10, 1902 pulled by Shay No.10 with coaches 5 and 6.

No.10 pulls first excursion September 15, 1902.

Engines used on the Angels  Branch

           No.9 two truck Heisler (1036) 1899

No.10 two truck Shay (718) 1902

No.11 two truck Shay (788) 1903

No.12 three truck Shay (789) 1903, not used often on AB, it was the mainline engine for the Hill Job, (Jamestown to Tuolumne), till larger rod engines were bought in the 1920s.

No.30 2-6-2 Baldwin (55412) 1922

No.32 2-6-2 Baldwin (57010) 1923, used on AB only when 30 was down for maintenance or as a helper. 

Passenger cars used on the Angels  Branch

Combine 5 built 1902 by Holman and Co. in San Francisco.

Coach 6 built 1902 by Holman and Co. in San Francisco.

Combine/caboose 9 built 1914 in Jamestown shops, only used when 5 or 6 was down for mainenance or on extra excursions.
     

Four flatcars w/ four length wise benches used 1902 for excursions.

Picnic cars 300, 302, 304, 306 made from ex V&T flats.

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