W. W. Prather Lumber Company - Revision history

Andrew Brandon at 21:06, 16 November 2021

2021-11-16T21:06:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:06, 16 November 2021
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	~~==History==~~		[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Logging\|Logging]] / [[W. W. Prather Lumber Company]]

	~~Lake~~ County in Northern California had a single railroad, built by Wilbur Prather for his Elk		===History===
			<span style="float:right;margin-left:20px;">__TOC__</span>
			<span class="paracap">L</span>'''ake''' County in Northern California had a single railroad, built by Wilbur Prather for his Elk
	Mountain Mill. It was a 3’ gauge railroad, using a variety of homemade and used railroad		Mountain Mill. It was a 3’ gauge railroad, using a variety of homemade and used railroad
	equipment.		equipment.

	Wilbur Prather established his saw mill at Elk Mountain in 1921. The mill site was 18 miles		Wilbur Prather established his saw mill at Elk Mountain in 1921. The mill site was 18 miles
	north of Lakeport, on Clear Lake. Prather purchased the Lakeport Planing Mill in 1922, which		north of Lakeport, on Clear Lake. Prather purchased the Lakeport Planing Mill in 1922, which
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	John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011<br />		John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011<br />

	~~[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]~~
	David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008<br />		David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008<br />
	Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars<br />		Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars<br />
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	Operations were on level gradients, permitting this somewhat unbelievable combination, and		Operations were on level gradients, permitting this somewhat unbelievable combination, and
	proving there is indeed a prototype for everything. Logs were bucked to 17 feet and were		proving there is indeed a prototype for everything. Logs were bucked to 17 feet and were

			[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Logging\|Logging]] / [[W. W. Prather Lumber Company]]
			[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]

John Hall at 20:49, 16 July 2021

2021-07-16T20:49:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:49, 16 July 2021
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	'''Bibliography'''<br />		'''Bibliography'''<br />
	John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011<br />		John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011<br />

			[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]
	David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008<br />		David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008<br />
	Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars<br />		Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars<br />

Andrew Brandon at 21:13, 11 June 2021

2021-06-11T21:13:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:13, 11 June 2021
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	Clear Lake floods, Prather leases mill (lumber or planning?) to others		Clear Lake floods, Prather leases mill (lumber or planning?) to others
	1946 – Mill closed		1946 – Mill closed

			'''Bibliography'''<br />
			John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011<br />
			David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008<br />
			Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars<br />
			[http://valleymodeltrains.com/website/165o.html]<br />

	===Equipment Roster===		===Equipment Roster===
	===Locomotives===		====Locomotives====
	“Little Dinky” Homemade locomotive based on 1919 International farm tractor		“Little Dinky” Homemade locomotive based on 1919 International farm tractor

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	To Les Wulmunder, preserved, near Chico California		To Les Wulmunder, preserved, near Chico California

	===~~Cars~~===		===Freight Equipment====
	8 cars, 4-wheel log cars based on narrow gauge passenger trucks (reportedly Barney &		8 cars, 4-wheel log cars based on narrow gauge passenger trucks (reportedly Barney &
	Smith trucks from NWP). Cars had swing bolsters removed and log bunks added. They		Smith trucks from NWP). Cars had swing bolsters removed and log bunks added. They
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	Lumber. One pair of log trucks and additional parts salvaged by Henry Sorenson		Lumber. One pair of log trucks and additional parts salvaged by Henry Sorenson

	~~'''Bibliography'''~~
	~~John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross,~~
	~~Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011~~
	~~David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008~~
	~~Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars~~
	~~[http://valleymodeltrains.com/website/165o.html]~~


	Photos of mill in UCB collection		===Photographs===
			Photos of mill in UCB collection<br />
	[https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/nanna/api/multimedia/image/v2/recid:14071-VTM00005756a_k.jpg/full/1500,/0/default.jpg]		[https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/nanna/api/multimedia/image/v2/recid:14071-VTM00005756a_k.jpg/full/1500,/0/default.jpg]
	http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_756_photo		http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_756_photo
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	===Commentary & Notes===		===Commentary & Notes===
	Lakeport CEQA Report		Lakeport CEQA Report<br />
	In 1922, [Wilbur] Prather took over the Lakeport Planing Mill and moved his lumberyard to its		In 1922, [Wilbur] Prather took over the Lakeport Planing Mill and moved his lumberyard to its
	location at the corner of South Main and Martin Streets. In an ad for the lumberyard it said that		location at the corner of South Main and Martin Streets. In an ad for the lumberyard it said that
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	single truck log cars built from Carter Passenger car trucks		single truck log cars built from Carter Passenger car trucks

	'''From Dave Braun:'''		'''From Dave Braun:'''<br />
	"What was Lake County's Only Railroad?" (Lake County being located in California, north of the		"What was Lake County's Only Railroad?" (Lake County being located in California, north of the
	San Francisco-Bay Area). The Prather railroad was also the second-to-the-last all-new narrow		San Francisco-Bay Area). The Prather railroad was also the second-to-the-last all-new narrow

Andrew Brandon: /* Rolling stock */

2021-06-11T21:11:39Z

Rolling stock

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:11, 11 June 2021
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	1946 – Mill closed		1946 – Mill closed

	==~~Rolling stock~~==		===Equipment Roster===
	Locomotives		===Locomotives===
	“Little Dinky” Homemade locomotive based on 1919 International farm tractor		“Little Dinky” Homemade locomotive based on 1919 International farm tractor

	1925 Whitcomb		1925 Whitcomb

	25 ton, two truck Heisler c/n 1225, built 1911		25 ton, two truck Heisler c/n 1225, built 1911
	to W W Prather Lumber near Clear Lake 1938		to W W Prather Lumber near Clear Lake 1938
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	Kept at Billy Jones railroad, to Hal Wilmunder for Camino Cable & Northern,		Kept at Billy Jones railroad, to Hal Wilmunder for Camino Cable & Northern,
	To Les Wulmunder, preserved, near Chico California		To Les Wulmunder, preserved, near Chico California
	Cars
			===Cars===
	8 cars, 4-wheel log cars based on narrow gauge passenger trucks (reportedly Barney &		8 cars, 4-wheel log cars based on narrow gauge passenger trucks (reportedly Barney &
	Smith trucks from NWP). Cars had swing bolsters removed and log bunks added. They		Smith trucks from NWP). Cars had swing bolsters removed and log bunks added. They
	were used one car per log rather than as disconnects. They were coupled with long		were used one car per log rather than as disconnects. They were coupled with long
	roosters.		roosters.

	10 ton capacity “Carter” wood frame pedestal log trucks. Cars had a mix of Carter and		10 ton capacity “Carter” wood frame pedestal log trucks. Cars had a mix of Carter and
	“LEW” castings. Either from Goodyear Lumber (ex L. E. White) or from Richardson		“LEW” castings. Either from Goodyear Lumber (ex L. E. White) or from Richardson
	Lumber. One pair of log trucks and additional parts salvaged by Henry Sorenson		Lumber. One pair of log trucks and additional parts salvaged by Henry Sorenson
	~~Sources~~
			'''Bibliography'''
	John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross,		John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross,
	Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011		Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011

Andrew Brandon: /* Timeline */

2021-06-11T21:09:22Z

Timeline

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:09, 11 June 2021
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	===Timeline===		===Timeline===
	July 1921, Prather builds/opens Elk Mountain Sawmill (SF Chronicle, 18 Jan 1922)		July 1921, Prather builds/opens Elk Mountain Sawmill (SF Chronicle, 18 Jan 1922)
	1922 – Wilbur Prather takes over the Lakeport Planing mill, and moved his lumber yard to this		1922 – Wilbur Prather takes over the Lakeport Planing mill, and moved his lumber yard to this locations (corner of South Main and Martin Streets, Lake Port)
	locations (corner of South Main and Martin Streets, Lake Port)		1923 – Pather purchases railroad material (rail and car parts) from the Colusa and Lake to build log railroad for Elk Mountain Mill.
	1923 – Pather purchases railroad material (rail and car parts) from the Colusa and Lake to		1919 - The first locomotive (“Little Dinky”) is a converted International Farm tractor.
	build log railroad for Elk Mountain Mill. The first locomotive (“Little Dinky”) is a converted		1924 – Logging railroad begins operations
	~~1919~~ International Farm tractor.		1925 – Purchases a Whitcomb gasoline locomotive
	1924 – Logging railroad begins operations		1938 – Purchases a used oil burning Heisler from Richardson Lumber, Steward Point.
	1925 – Purchases a Whitcomb gasoline locomotive		Clear Lake floods, Prather leases mill (lumber or planning?) to others
	1938 – Purchases a used oil burning Heisler from Richardson Lumber, Steward Point.		1946 – Mill closed
	Clear Lake floods, Prather leases mill (lumber or planning?) to others
	1946 – Mill closed


	==Rolling stock==		==Rolling stock==

Andrew Brandon at 22:36, 1 June 2021

2021-06-01T22:36:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:36, 1 June 2021
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	David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008		David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008
	Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars		Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars
	http://valleymodeltrains.com/website/165o.html		[http://valleymodeltrains.com/website/165o.html]


	~~Source notes~~
	Photos of mill in UCB collection		Photos of mill in UCB collection
			[https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/nanna/api/multimedia/image/v2/recid:14071-VTM00005756a_k.jpg/full/1500,/0/default.jpg]
	http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_756_photo		http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_756_photo
	http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_757_photo		http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_757_photo

Andrew Brandon: Created page with "==History== Lake County in Northern California had a single railroad, built by Wilbur Prather for his Elk Mountain Mill. It was a 3’ gauge railroad, using a variety of home..."

2021-06-01T22:35:05Z

Created page with "==History== Lake County in Northern California had a single railroad, built by Wilbur Prather for his Elk Mountain Mill. It was a 3’ gauge railroad, using a variety of home..."

New page

==History==

Lake County in Northern California had a single railroad, built by Wilbur Prather for his Elk
Mountain Mill. It was a 3’ gauge railroad, using a variety of homemade and used railroad
equipment.
Wilbur Prather established his saw mill at Elk Mountain in 1921. The mill site was 18 miles
north of Lakeport, on Clear Lake. Prather purchased the Lakeport Planing Mill in 1922, which
he used in part as his retail lumber yard and hardware store. Trucks were used to transfer
lumber from the saw mill to Lakeport. Prather also operated general trucking business hauling
a variety of goods, including pears and gravel.

Mill from 1921, railroad added 1936, abandoned 1946 36” gauge 4 miles long

===Timeline===
July 1921, Prather builds/opens Elk Mountain Sawmill (SF Chronicle, 18 Jan 1922)
1922 – Wilbur Prather takes over the Lakeport Planing mill, and moved his lumber yard to this
locations (corner of South Main and Martin Streets, Lake Port)
1923 – Pather purchases railroad material (rail and car parts) from the Colusa and Lake to
build log railroad for Elk Mountain Mill. The first locomotive (“Little Dinky”) is a converted
1919 International Farm tractor.
1924 – Logging railroad begins operations
1925 – Purchases a Whitcomb gasoline locomotive
1938 – Purchases a used oil burning Heisler from Richardson Lumber, Steward Point.
Clear Lake floods, Prather leases mill (lumber or planning?) to others
1946 – Mill closed

==Rolling stock==
Locomotives
“Little Dinky” Homemade locomotive based on 1919 International farm tractor
1925 Whitcomb
25 ton, two truck Heisler c/n 1225, built 1911
to W W Prather Lumber near Clear Lake 1938
Abandoned in the woods, salvaged by Holmes Brothers of Santa Cruz, c. 1955
Kept at Billy Jones railroad, to Hal Wilmunder for Camino Cable & Northern,
To Les Wulmunder, preserved, near Chico California
Cars
8 cars, 4-wheel log cars based on narrow gauge passenger trucks (reportedly Barney &
Smith trucks from NWP). Cars had swing bolsters removed and log bunks added. They
were used one car per log rather than as disconnects. They were coupled with long
roosters.
10 ton capacity “Carter” wood frame pedestal log trucks. Cars had a mix of Carter and
“LEW” castings. Either from Goodyear Lumber (ex L. E. White) or from Richardson
Lumber. One pair of log trucks and additional parts salvaged by Henry Sorenson
Sources
John Parker, Clues About Lakeport's Past: Archaeological Monitoring Report, For Floyd Ross,
Savings Bank of Mendocino County, 2011
David Morgan, Lonely at the Top, published by author, 2008
Dave Braun, Valley Model trains page for model of the 4-wheel passenger truck based log cars
http://valleymodeltrains.com/website/165o.html

Source notes
Photos of mill in UCB collection
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_756_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_757_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_758_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_759_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_760_photo

http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_761_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_752_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_763_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_764_photo
http://dc.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/VTM_vtm1_765_photo

===Commentary & Notes===
Lakeport CEQA Report
In 1922, [Wilbur] Prather took over the Lakeport Planing Mill and moved his lumberyard to its
location at the corner of South Main and Martin Streets. In an ad for the lumberyard it said that
various types of lumber were sold, but “no bull pine.” From this time on, Wilbur Prather was
affectionately known as “Bull Pine”. In 1923, the need to transport timber to his Elk Mountain
Mill from farther distances, prompted Wilbur to purchase portions of the abandon narrow gage
Colusa and Lake Railroad. He had track and wheels shipped by rail to the Hopland station where
he loaded them on trucks for the trip to Elk Mountain. He coupled a 1919 International farm
tractor to a set of rail wheels and made the first Lake County Locomotive, “Little Dinky”.
In 1925, a Whitcomb gasoline locomotive was added and later a steam yarding engine. The mill
managed to remain in operation through the depression and in 1938, an oil-burning Heisler
locomotive was added.

Clear Lake flooded in 1938 and Prather decided to lease his mill operation to the Lake County
Lumber and Box Co. A string of leases followed until the mill was closed in 1946.
Operated with a Hiesler purchased used from Stewart’s Point, some disconnect log cars and
single truck log cars built from Carter Passenger car trucks

'''From Dave Braun:'''
"What was Lake County's Only Railroad?" (Lake County being located in California, north of the
San Francisco-Bay Area). The Prather railroad was also the second-to-the-last all-new narrow
gauge logging railroad constructed in the state of California. In the Spring of 1924, Prather
began logging operations using a small International tractor as a locomotive, and log cars
consisting of eight former Northwestern Pacific narrow gauge passenger car trucks.
Operations were on level gradients, permitting this somewhat unbelievable combination, and
proving there is indeed a prototype for everything. Logs were bucked to 17 feet and were