Sacramento Bee: Enthusiasts hope El Dorado rail park is just around the bend

The El Dorado County Historical Museum occasionally enjoys an article in one of our regional newspapers:

By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee writer
Published: Friday, Sep. 11, 2009, Page 3B

An old locomotive, screened by a chain-link fence and a row of trees, is easy to miss at the El Dorado County Historical Museum in Placerville.

But volunteers have labored for years in the storage yard to restore vestiges of an industry and an era nearly as important to the county as the Gold Rush. By next spring, their handiwork may be on view in the El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park.

The park, to be developed within a former Southern Pacific Railroad right of way in the town of El Dorado, will spotlight the county's logging railroads. [Continue reading]

The photo gallery can be viewed by clicking here.

How many railroaders does it take to thread a screw?

Answer: One railroad president (Keith Berry, tapping the hole for the handbrake pal) and six railroads giving advise, including the photographer! The crew includes, clockwise from top left, John Rodgers, Wayne Thorely, Bill Rodgers, Alberto Weiss and Mark Bruto. Photographer Steve Karoly was behind the camera.

Keith and Alberto have used the past week to fabricate a new hand brake for the Diamond and Caldor railbus flatcar. Using parts donated from a rail museum in Massachusetts (ratchet and pawl), the two designed and machined the chain roller, brake shaft and bushings for the hand brake.

Handrail and roof

Monday, August 24, was a productive day on the Diamond and Caldor Railbus:

Mark Bruto drills one of the holes for the handrail on the rear entrance to the rail bus. Keith Berry guided Mark to make sure the hole was drilled square to the rear wall. Welder Wayne Thorley (not pictured) finished welding both handrails on Saturday.

Steve Karoly (pictured) and Keith sanded the roof to the railbus before Mark arrived. The painting and preservation team took advantage of the cool weather. With Steve taking the lead, the two completely sanded the old paint off in about two hours. The plan is to paint the roof silver while the body will be school bus yellow.

El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park to county supervisors today

Today is a significant day for the El Dorado Western Railway and the El Dorado County Historical Museum. Our proposal to build the El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park is going before the county Board of Supervisors today for approval.

The project is being recommended by Supervisor Jack Sweeney and Library Director Jeanie Amos. (The museum falls under the County Library.)

The full text of the proposal can be viewed on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisor's website.

Working on the Porter

When I stopped by the engine house last Wednesday, I found Keith Berry sanding the wood surfaces on the Michigan-California Lumber Co. No. 6 Porter locomotive. Even though the tiny eight-ton 0-4-0T engine (CN 2049) isn't scheduled for renovated at this time, Keith wanted to preserve the wood surfaces. The wood seats and arm rests soon rot away when left to the elements with the open cab.

Back in action ... report on rail recovery

After working as the chef at Deer Crossing Camp at Loon Lake for the summer, I'm back in town and ready to report on the happenings of the Ed Dorado Western Railway. Although I was out-of-action for most of the summer, volunteers have been busy with various projects.

My last two reports on the rail recovery project at the site of the old Diamond Springs Southern Pacific depot and yard named the volunteers who were involved. This included new father and son team, along with the son's friend and a young volunteer, as reported in my July 16 update.

My original story of June 9 listed the names of some eight volunteers who contributed significant physical effort toward removing un-need rail at the Missouri Flat Road site for eventual use at the proposed El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park in the Town of El Dorado.

One volunteer stands out among the dozen who have contributed to the project. Bill Rodgers worked on the project from the beginning in early June. He probably gave more time than any other volunteer.

Even after the contractor palatalized the rail joiners and tie plates, Bill made sure that these key components for the construction of sidings and a third rail at El Dorado were secured at the county museum on Placerville Drive. As recently as last Saturday, Bill was moving rail hardware to the museum.

You quickly learn of Bill's impeccable work ethic when working side-by-side with him. With his trademark bib overalls and orange t-shirt, Bill is a master handyman who and will can do almost anything.

Update on Diamond Springs depot rail removal

June 9, 2009 was the last time I worked on the rail project in the old Southern Pacific yard at Diamond Springs. My summer job at Loon Lake in Eldorado National Forest has kept me far away from the day-to-day action of the El Dorado Western Railway and El Dorado County Historical Museum.

I left for Deer Crossing Camp at the front end of the rail removal project. Except for weekly email updates from Keith Berry, I've been out of the loop.

Home for a rare two-day stretch, I emailed Keith earlier in the week and arranged to meet at the Diamond Springs Hotel for breakfast today.

Keith and I met El Dorado County Fire Battalion Chief Kurt Taylor and EDWRF board member Ed Cuhna at the hotel. We caught up on the happenings of the railway and its effort to promote the proposed El Dorado County Railroad Park at the old El Dorado depot site in El Dorado.

"The project went right along, thanks to our new volunteers," said Keith. The railway experienced a sudden influx of volunteer at the beginning of June. Father and son team Mike and Mason Powers had started Memorial Day week.

Then Mason brought his friend Ian to help. Ian's father soon joined in, as did a young, hard-working college student, Alex. "Ian and his dad used to come around at the county fair and visit us," said Keith.

"Everybody pitched in," added Keith. The rail team completed the project in eight calendar days, "which is amazing."

Our foursome enjoyed lively conversation on local politics, fire department news and rail happenings in El Dorado County. It gave me a chance to re-connect with rail buddies and get my mind a way from the camp kitchen (more on my job at 'Round the Chuckbox).

Kurt and Ed left to restore an old fire engine after breakfast. Keith and I talked on.

Always gracious, hotel co-owner Amy Shim and Kathy, our server, kept coffee and soda flowing for two and one-half hours.