This week our Friday field trip took us to the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad (NCNGRR) Museum in Nevada City. Once there, we meet 4 volunteer docents who lead each of our groups on a guided tour of the museum, yard and restoration workshop. This museum is operated by the Nevada County Historical Society.
The NCNGRR began operations in 1876 to provide reliable year-round transportation to the rich mining districts of western Nevada County. The original 22 and half mile route began in Nevada City, traveled to the railroad’s headquarters in Grass Valley, then on to Colfax for connections to the Central Pacific.
This museum is home to “Engine 5”, a completely restored 1875 Baldwin engine that began service hauling lumber, then passengers and freight for the NCNGRR, and finally as a movie engine at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
The engine was returned to Nevada City for restoration in 1985 on the flat bed of a large truck.
We all got to climb around this reproduction of an old caboose. Cabooses are no longer used.
Here is a car waiting to be restored – big job ahead!
Inside the restoration workshop we got to see more project they have completed and a few others they are currently working on.
Brayden climbed aboard this engine and tried out the bell – it was a loud one!
This old rail bus is in the process of being restored
If you look close you can even see the manzanita plant growing out of this old oil tanker car 🙂
A common question was “why is it called narrow gauge?” The picture shows why. Narrow gauge means exactly that – narrow. A narrow gauge track is only 3 feet wide wile a standard track is 4 ft 8 inches wide. it was cheaper to build a narrow track so it was sometimes used for smaller lines such as this.
Back inside the museum their were many more things to see. This picture titled “End Of The Line” depicts the Nevada City depot and rail yard in 1910
The museum also has on display other turn-of-the 20th century transportation modes such as an electric streetcar line, a steam powered automobile, and the first commercial airport in the United States. In the picture above, the Jeffery Steam Car. Below is a picture of a traditional buggy that would have been drawn by horses.
This is a model of an early airplane designed and built by Lyman Gilmore here in Grass Valley. The map shows the first commercial airport built in California by Mr. Gilmore.
Finally, the museum also hold this model of the Kidder Mansion. The Kidders were the owners of the NCNGRR. This 7,800 sq ft mansion was built in 1886 across the street from the depot in Grass Valley. Mr. Kidder sod the home in 1913. It was left to deteriorate and finally torn down in 1982.
So after our fun tour at the NCNGRR museum we grabbed some lunch at Cousin Jack’s Pasties 🙂
The Hatch Family 