VOLUNTEERS UNLOADED each carload of rocks into the gully in about 15 minutes. They then laid a 10-foot line of rocks in the gully. The rocks will prevent rushing water from cutting into the rail bed during heavy rain storms. Crew members, from left to right, are Bill Wilde, 47, Shingle Springs; Alex Wilde, 22, Cameron Park; Hank Stiles, Fairmount speeder operator, 62, Rancho Cordova; Keith Berry, EDWRF president and project manager, 62, El Dorado; and Jacob Karoly, 19, Diamond Springs. Photographs by Steven Karoly
On Saturday, Nov. 13, 15 volunteers from two railway organizations joined forces to clear several tons of rock and dirt from the Tunnel No. 1 cut on the historical Placerville Branch rail line.
In an era of austere government budgets, crews from the El Dorado Western Railway Foundation and the Folsom, El Dorado and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association donated over 75 hours of personal labor to ensure safe passage through the cut for pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians and trains.
“Saturday’s work day on the Placerville Branch is a stark reminder of how the railroad was built and how we can overcome the need for tax dollars by using volunteers,” said Ed Cunha, EDWRF vice president. “In less than five hours, this small army of volunteers was able to reopen the Tunnel No. 1 cut and reestablish drainage in the cut where standing water had prohibited passage for as many years as anyone can remember.”
A key aspect of the project was the reclamation of excavated rock and dirt from the cut.
EDWRF president Keith Berry identified a washout one-half mile west of the cut where the material was used to shore up an eroded drainage ditch. Using the FEDS’ large Fairmount speeder and flatcar to transport fill material from the cut, the crew laid a rock foundation over a donated eight-inch steel culvert pipe.
To facilitate passage on the existing unimproved hiking and mountain bike trail adjacent to the tracks, the crew built a trail crossing over the repaired drainage ditch.
This project brought volunteers from two distinct railroad associations together to preserve El Dorado County’s rail legacy for current and future generations.
It’s a testament of the value these volunteers bring to the project. Using picks and shovels and a backhoe, volunteers cleared an important passage on the rail corridor without spending one dollar from county coffers, the group stgated in a press release.
“This project serves all corridor venues, thereby providing a fine first example of developing a commonly held resource,” said Berry. “This project is extended toward the entire community and is only the first step in demonstrating a viable and successful approach within very limited financial times.”
The foundation is working in partnership with the County of El Dorado and the El Dorado County Historical Museum to develop the El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park in the Town of El Dorado and to preserve the historical Placerville Branch rail line.
- VOLUNTEERS UNLOADED each carload of rocks into the gully in about 15 minutes. They then laid a 10-foot line of rocks in the gully. The rocks will prevent rushing water from cutting into the rail bed during heavy rain storms. Crew members, from left to right, are Bill Wilde, 47, Shingle Springs; Alex Wilde, 22, Cameron Park; Hank Stiles, Fairmount speeder operator, 62, Rancho Cordova; Keith Berry, EDWRF president and project manager, 62, El Dorado; and Jacob Karoly, 19, Diamond Springs. Photographs by Steven Karoly
- A BACK HOE operators Bob McCormick of El Dorado digs a drainage ditch on the east side of Tunnel No.1 cut. The dirt was used as fill for a washout repair a half mile down the line. Photograph by Steven Karoly
- CREW MAKE-UP CHANGED each time a new load of rocks or fill dirt was brought down the rails to the washout. Within one hour of completing the project, two men on mountain bikes reported to Ed Cunha that the bridge worked well. The last crew of the day consisted of, left to right, Hank Stiles, Fairmount speeder operator, 62, Rancho Cordova; Keith Berry, EDWRF president and project manager, 62, El Dorado; Ben Cunha, 55, Diamond Springs; Ed Cunha, 28, Diamond Springs; Alex Wilde, 22, Cameron Park; Bill Wilde, 47, Shingle Springs; and Bill Bellas, 54, Cameron Park. Photographs by Steven Karoly
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