Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge
A narrow gauge railroad of Nevada and California
Originally known as the Carson & Colorado, this 3-foot gauge railroad was built in 1880-1883 and ran from Mound House, NV to Keeler, CA. After riding the newly completed line, one of the stockholders famously declared, “Either we built this railroad 300 miles too long, or 300 years too soon.”
In 1900 it was purchased by the Southern Pacific. Major silver and gold strikes at Tonopah and Goldfield boosted revenues shortly thereafter. In later years various portions of the line were standard gauged or abandoned, until only the section from Laws to Keeler remained. The last remnants of the line lasted until it was shut down in 1960.
Many of the facilities at Laws, CA are preserved as part of the Laws Railroad and Historical Museum, along with engine #9 and several pieces of rolling stock. Additional equipment can be found at other sites. Check my Laws, CA page for photos of SPNG facilities including the Laws depot, water tower and fueling facilities and “gallows” turntable; as well as mining equipment, historic buildings and other neat stuff.
August 2011 -- I now have a page for Keeler, CA which includes photos of the SPNG depot at Keeler, the Sierra Talc Co. mill, and other historic structures.
July 2013 -- I’ve added some photos that were taken on my first visit to Laws, back in 2001. Photos of rolling stock were added to the pages listed below. Photos of the depot and other facilities have been posted on my Laws, CA page.
August 2015 -- I now have a page for Kearsarge, CA, the site of a former depot on the line.
Type: 4-6-0
Location: Currently on display at a park in Independence, CA. Click photo to see more images.
Type: 4-6-0
Location: Currently on display at the Laws Railroad and Historical Museum in Laws, CA. Click photo to see more images.
Location: Currently on display at the Laws Railroad and Historical Museum in Laws, CA. Click photo to see more images.
Location: Currently on display at the Laws Railroad and Historical Museum in Laws, CA. Click photo to see more images.
Location: Currently on display at the Laws Railroad and Historical Museum in Laws, CA. Click photo to see more images.
Location: Currently in use as a shed, in the Swansea area north of Keeler, CA. Click photo to see more images.
Copyright Notice:
The contents of this entire site are property of Ray R. Dunakin III except where noted, and may not be used without permission.