Difference between revisions of "Swayne Lumber Company"

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===History===
===History===


In 1909, at the same time the [[Truckee Lumber Company]] was grading a standard gauge spur up French Creek, from the Western Pacific Railroad the Swayne Lumber Company constructed its first mill nearby.<ref>''Oroville Daily Register'' June 9, 1909, page 1</ref> The mill was located 1800 feet above the Western Pacific Railway tracks just northwest of Stanwood. A 4,200 foot long incline was built to move cut lumber from the Swayne mill down to the Western Pacific tracks.<ref>''Oroville Daily Register'' February 24, 1910, page 4</ref> The SLCo. built a short 36 inch narrow gauge railroad between the top of the incline and the sawmill.<ref>''Chico Record'' November 19, 1909, page 3</ref> The railroad was extended north into Swayne timber lands where the timber was logged and brought to the mill by a Class B shay built in June 1911. Expansions of the track and mill occurred periodically until disaster struck on October 24, 1916 when the mill burned to the ground.<ref>''Chico Record'' October 26, 1916, page 4</ref>
In 1909, W. H. Swayne and C. L. Tilden formed the Feather River Lumber Company.<ref>''Marysville Daily Appeal'' August 14, 1909, page 1</ref> A month later it was renamed the Swayne Lumber Company due to being confused with another company.<ref>''Feather River Bulletin'' September 20, 1909, page 3</ref> The Swayne Lumber Company constructed its first mill on a bluff 1,800 feet above the Western Pacific Railway tracks just northwest of Stanwood. A 4,200 foot long incline was built to move cut lumber from the Swayne mill down to the Western Pacific tracks.<ref>''Oroville Daily Register'' February 24, 1910, page 4</ref> The mill included a box factory and a drying kiln. The SLCo. built a short 36 inch narrow gauge railroad between the top of the incline and the sawmill.<ref>''Chico Record'' November 19, 1909, page 3</ref> The railroad was extended north into Swayne timber lands where the timber was logged and brought to the mill by a Class B shay built in June 1911. Expansions of the track and mill occurred periodically until disaster struck on October 24, 1916 when the mill burned to the ground.<ref>''Chico Record'' October 26, 1916, page 4</ref>


Initially the newspapers reported the mill was to be rebuilt. Instead, the controlling interest in the idle ex-Truckee/Westside mill in Oroville was purchased by the Swayne Lumber Company along with the Butte and Plumas Railroad and the extensive Truckee Lumber Co. timber lands.<ref>''Chico Record'' April 11, 1917, page 3</ref> See the [[Butte and Plumas Railway]] for the rest of the story.
Initially the newspapers reported the mill was to be rebuilt. Instead, the controlling interest in the idle ex-Truckee/Westside mill in Oroville was purchased by the Swayne Lumber Company along with the Butte and Plumas Railroad and the extensive Truckee Lumber Co. timber lands.<ref>''Chico Record'' April 11, 1917, page 3</ref> See the [[Butte and Plumas Railway]] for the rest of the story.

Revision as of 16:29, 26 June 2023

California / Logging / Swayne Lumber Company

By John F. Hall.

History

In 1909, W. H. Swayne and C. L. Tilden formed the Feather River Lumber Company.[1] A month later it was renamed the Swayne Lumber Company due to being confused with another company.[2] The Swayne Lumber Company constructed its first mill on a bluff 1,800 feet above the Western Pacific Railway tracks just northwest of Stanwood. A 4,200 foot long incline was built to move cut lumber from the Swayne mill down to the Western Pacific tracks.[3] The mill included a box factory and a drying kiln. The SLCo. built a short 36 inch narrow gauge railroad between the top of the incline and the sawmill.[4] The railroad was extended north into Swayne timber lands where the timber was logged and brought to the mill by a Class B shay built in June 1911. Expansions of the track and mill occurred periodically until disaster struck on October 24, 1916 when the mill burned to the ground.[5]

Initially the newspapers reported the mill was to be rebuilt. Instead, the controlling interest in the idle ex-Truckee/Westside mill in Oroville was purchased by the Swayne Lumber Company along with the Butte and Plumas Railroad and the extensive Truckee Lumber Co. timber lands.[6] See the Butte and Plumas Railway for the rest of the story.

References

  1. ↑ Marysville Daily Appeal August 14, 1909, page 1
  2. ↑ Feather River Bulletin September 20, 1909, page 3
  3. ↑ Oroville Daily Register February 24, 1910, page 4
  4. ↑ Chico Record November 19, 1909, page 3
  5. ↑ Chico Record October 26, 1916, page 4
  6. ↑ Chico Record April 11, 1917, page 3

Reference Material Available Online

Equipment Rosters

Locomotives of the 36 inch gauge Swayne Lumber Company prior to obtaining the Butte and Plumas Railway 1910-1916
SLCo. 1911- 1917 No. Whyte Builder C/N Order Date In Service Date Class Cyl. Drv. Wt. Notes
Png photo notavailable 150px.png
 1 Unknown locomotive
Png photo notavailable 150px.png
 2 2T Lima 2458 June 1911 1911 B 24-2 3-8x8 27.5" 48,600 Purchased by Swayne Lumber Co. in 1911 before it bought the Truckee Lumber co. Became No. 4 in 1917, Scrapped 1940

Photographs

Maps

Further Reading

Beckstrom, Paul & Braun David W. The Swayne Lumber Company Pacific Fast Mail Edmonds WA 1992.

California / Logging / Swayne Lumber Company

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