Because levels at Shasta Lake are so low, many relics are being exposed that were submerged when the lake was filled in the 40's and this includes structures from Southern Pacific's original north-south line built in the 1880's. So the family and I took the boat out to Shasta Lake yesterday to do a more detailed exploration of tunnel 5 and the truss bridge as well as Bully Hill Mine. My brother and I took a long a small raft and we paddled through the entire length of tunnel 5 and back. Not as long as I thought it was going to be. We also discovered a small portion of tunnel 4 under a mountain of dirt. In addition we found ourselves up Squaw Creek and the Bully Hill Mine district and followed quite a bit of the roadbed from the 30" gauge line they had there. Anyway on to the photos...... South end of Tunnel 5, only visible by boat Side view On approach Straight On
More photos Another Side View Date On The Truss Bridge The Little Bit Of Tunnel 4 That Is Visible We tried to do some digging with the ores we had on our boat, but only got so far....
Now onto the photos of what is left of Bully Hill Mine's mile long 30" gauge railroad View of the grade skirting the side of the mountain Heading the other direction the line makes one more sharp turn on this hill...... Then comes across this fill up to the mine...... And crossed this diversion creek and across another fill on the other side
More photos...... After crossing the last fill, the grade makes a left and heads up a cut towards the mine. Here you can see the switchback track up to the mine in the foreground and in the cut in the background was the mainline coming up from the lake. What's Left of Bully Hill Mine
Thanks for the comments guys, I am done posting photos now, hehe. John let me tell ya, that bridge looks like something right out of a horror film It is creepy lookin'
I'm not usually interested in the remains of abandoned lines, but this one is so weird it grabbed me.
Thanks guys for the comments. This kind of historical stuff really gets my blood pumpin', I am a big local history buff. All together I took about 105 photos yesterday but I thought I would spare you guys I should be documenting most of them on a website I am currently building so we will see how long that takes
Great work, Matt! :thumbs_up: It's so rare the lake gets that low, I'm thinking the Record Searchlight might be interested in your photos, etc. Or, how 'bout Model Railroader ... then you'd be "published". *wink* Are you and Tim going to be in Yreka for the 19s' last run Saturday?
Thanks Bill! I know it, I figure this may or may not be one of the last chances I get to photograph this stuff so I took the chance, I might have to submit some photos to the paper, especially since the moron who wrote the article said the bridge is on its side.... :tb-wacky: And yes Tim and I will be in Yreka this Saturday, I am looking forward to it.
If they ever raise the height of Shasta Dam, as has been discussed for a decade or more, the water level would not likely drop that low again for a very long time ... if ever! The partially exposed bridge and tunnel(s) would be an interesting feature to model. I think I'll give it a try.
Man, that's fascinating. Amazing how much stuff can disappear when a man-made lake is formed. Thanks for taking those photos and please give us the address of your website when completed. :tb-ooh:
