88 



BULLETIN 440, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The construction materials used are the same as for logging roads, 

 except that the steel is usually 56 or 60 pounds. 



The locomotives engaged on lumber hauls vary from 35 to 90 

 tons in weight. The smaller engines are employed on short, easy 

 hauls. An engine of from 70 to 75 tons in weight is commonly the 

 most satisfactory for the longer lumber hauls. Where the cars are 

 owned by the lumber operator light flat cars are employed. Foreign 

 cars are always used whenever possible. 



One 75-ton locomotive and crew will handle the output of a double- 

 band mill for distances up to 30 miles on roads with moderate grades. 

 Two trips are made daily on a 15-mile run and one trip daily on a 

 30-mile run. A crew consists of a conductor, engineer, fireman, and 

 one or two brakemen. Definite cost figures on the operation of 

 private lumber railroads are not at hand, but it is estimated that 

 dry lumber can be transported for from 50 to 75 cents per 1,000 

 for hauls of from 10 to 15 miles. 



Whenever it is necessary for the railroad to be a common carrier, 

 a separate company owned by the lumber company stockholders is 

 usually formed to operate it. The rates of common carrier raihoads 

 are subject to revision and approval by the State RaHroad Commis- 

 sion. They are theoretically equal to the proportionate cost of opera- 

 tion plus a reasonable profit on the investment. The local rates 

 upon a number of primarily lumber-carrying railroads follow : 



Name of road. 



Points. 



Mile- 

 age. 



Rate 

 per 2,000 

 pounds. 





McCloud to Sisson 



17 

 23 

 26 

 57 

 30 

 45 



$2.25 



Sugar Pine Railroad 



Lyons Dam to Sonera 



1.35 



Boca & Loyalton Railroad 



Loyalton to Boca -. . 



L50 





Tiinlnmnp. to OaVdalfi . 



1.60 



Butte County Railroad. 



Sterling City to Barber 



1.65 



San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad 



White Pine to iEl Prado 



2.25 









These local rates are used in combination with trunk-line rates 

 for most California shipments. Points on some of these lines take 

 coast group rates in transcontinental shipments. Air-dried pine 

 lumber has a shipping weight of from 2,500 to 2,700 pounds per 

 1,000 feet board measure. 



LUMBER INCLINES. 



Where the sawmiU is located within a short distance of a trunk- 

 line railroad but at a considerably higher elevation, an incline is 

 frequently the best and most economical method of delivering the 

 lumber at the loading spur. There are several such inclines in 

 operation, as well as one or two where the lumber is hauled up instead 

 of lowered. An incHne located in the central Sierras, and in general 

 typical of them all, is described below. 



