Then and now: Short life for South Shore tracks
The narrow-gauge track in South Lake Tahoe didn’t last long. Photo/Rick Brower collection
TTC&P — the Tahoe,Trout Creek & Pacific Railroad — was a narrow-gauge endeavor in South Lake Tahoe, existing only from 1970 to 1971.
The tracks lasted one year. Photo/Rick Brower collection
Its short-lived route traversed the Trout Creek meadow from the corner next to where now stands U.S. Bank and then went toward the South Tahoe Public Utility District treatment plant.
The tracks would not be allowed today for environmental reasons. Photo/Rick Brower collection
The Baldwin Locomotive Works steam engine came from a Hawaiian sugar cane plantation.
Workers install the track for TTC&P in 1970. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
The rails were mounted either on regular railroad ties or on stock lumber as seen above. Here is a link to the fascinating pictorial history as posted by then-owner Bob Keller.
— Bill Kingman
Very cool…. too bad it did not last.
Bill Kingman and Rick Brower, Great photos of the old steam locomotve and train tracks out in the Trout Creek Meadow.For a time, a small section of track was moved up off the meadow and an old rusty mining cart was placed there on the tracks.
Looking forward to the May 12 slideshow at Camp Richardson Lodge at 7 pm for “The Firseside Chat”. OLS
When was this, Bill? Why did they build it and why was it stopped? Are there any old tracks still on the ground?
I remember abandoned box cars and track in the meadow where Heavenly Valley Creek joins Trout Creek as recently as the mid 1970s. There was also a dirt parking lot and giant billboard in Trout Creek meadow on Highway 50, below US Bank; and there were railroad crossing signs on Meadowvale near the STPUD offices back when Meadowvale connected to Johnson Blvd. (a dirt road that passed through the LTCC Campus). I heard that the tracks were torn out and moved for a new excursion railroad in Arizona.
All those interisted in the TTC&P RR, I have accumulated a lot of information on the RR and the life of No.5, the Baldwin 2-4-2 Locomotive used.
I love to share my findings and I can be contacted pert near any time. I decided to have the brochures reprinted and made available as a great collectors item, They will be available for free upon request A donation to the Lake Tahoe Historical Society would be appreciated if you wish.
I have to respect the rights of others and only certain photos I have are available.
rbbrower@juno.com
Lyn,Frank, I can answer all your questions.
Bill Kingman is doing a wonderfil thing in making our local history available and adding, as only he can, his bit of color to each subject, thanks Bill
Rick