Category:45.25in Gauge Railroads

A unique gauge used by Union Plank Walk & Rail Track Company in 1854. The odd gauge has been attributed to the wheel sets on hand used on its original four wheel horse drawn car. It seems more likely that the gauge was chosen based on the spacing of the timbers supporting the long wharf.

unique gauge used by Union Plank Walk & Rail Track Company in 1854. The odd gauge has been attributed to the wheel sets on hand used on its original four wheel horse drawn car. It seems more likely that the gauge was chosen based on the spacing of the timbers supporting the long wharf.

At the time the gauge was chosen there were no other railroads in the Eureka area, and no expectation that any would be built. In fact, It would be 1901, before the standard gauge California Northern (Later the Eel River & Eureka, later the San Francisco & Northwestern, later the North Western Pacific) reached Arcata

Ultimately only three area railroads would use this gauge:

• Union Plank Walk & Rail Track Company, which would become the Arcata & Mad River Railroad, • The Northern Redwood Lumber Company which shared ownership with the A&MR, • Isaac Warren’s logging line, first at Warren Creek, later at Glendale