The Patterson and Western was a 3 gauge mining railroad that began operation September 20, 1916. It ran about 23 miles west from Patterson to serve a cluster of small mines producing magnesite, chromite and quicksilver. Ore was taken down Del Puerto Canyon to the processing plant at a station called Chrome, located at milepost 20.7. Interchange was via hand transfer to the SP in Patterson. The railroad served dozens of mines and there was a 3,000 foot 2 gauge gas-locomotive tramway up to one mine high up on the side of the canyon. This mine was a dry hole and the tram only lasted until 1917. The westernmost station was called Jones where there was a wye and small yard, plus spurs to some mines. The railroad used 2 shays which went to logging operations after the railroad ended: Patterson and Western 2 was built February 1916. It was a Class A, two truck shay weighing 18-20 tons. She was an oil burner. After the P&W, she was sold via United Commercial to the Diamond and Caldor as their 9. The 2 was scrapped after 1938. Patterson and Western 3 was also a Class A, two truck weighing about 18-20 tons. She was built December 1916. After the P&W ended, she went to Landreth Brothers Lumber Co. in Wenatchee, WA, still as #3. She was scrapped after 1926. With the end of WWI, the government removed price supports on the minerals the P&W hauled and the line became unprofitable. It last ran on August 14, 1920 and was torn up soon after. In the 1930s, WPA crews and prison work gangs used much of the right of way for Del Puerto Canyon Road, although there are a few areas, like the creek crossing, where the road and ROW diverged. Today, the station of Jones is on private property and is inaccessible, although one can reportedly still find mine heads and some traces of the railroad there. Considering the remote location and short operation, there seem to be very few photos of the P&W.
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 14:58:14 +0000
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