(209) 372-4277 |
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(209) 372-4277 |
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Camp One - A Brief History
The incline branched from the YV
opposite El Portal on a Y and spanned the Merced River on a
trestle. The right spur of the Y was used for loaded log cars
which were then switched to the main line for transporting to the
mill. The left spur of the Y held the empties which were ready to
go back up to the 
top.
The incline started up the mountain on a 48% grade, changed to a
52% grade for several hundred feet, and then dropped to a 45%
grade until the middle of the incline was reached. A manual
switch was situated just below the midpoint and the remainder of
the route was double tracked to the top. The 1000 feet to the
summit was a 78% grade, the steepest on the line, and probably
the sharpest grade ever built on a logging incline in the US.
There were four trestles and two overhead hold-downs in addition
to the regular roller system. The big hoist at the top weighed
150 tons, and was a steam-powered product of the Williamette Iron
Works. Line speed was 1300 feet per minute and about six cars an
hour could be handled.
The incline was a counterbalanced arrangement in that a loaded
log car was let down as an empty was pulled up. Some 8600 feet of
1 1/2" wire rope, improved plow steel with 6 x 19
construction, were used. Once a loaded car was started over the
summit, only braking power was needed. 
Car speed was about 15 miles per hour.
The first trainload of logs went to the mill on July 28, 1912,
and loads of 15 to 25 cars continued for the rest of the season.
Logging could be done only from about April until November as
heavy snows in the mountains made winter work impossible. Enough
timber was laid in during the cutting season to keep the Merced
Falls mill operating on a year-round basis.
At the end of the first full year, the lumber company claimed a cut of 35,000,000 feet of lumber. Some 7000 carloads of logs had been shipped to the mill and nearly 600 men employed during the season.
Call (209) 372-4277 to book your secluded retreat today.
Yosemite Lodging >> Camp One Yosemite
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