Michigan-California Lumber Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Logging, Lumber |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Fate | Operations ceased after 1949 fire; ownership changes through 2022 |
| Headquarters | Camino, California , United States |
| Products | Ponderosa pine, Sugar pine lumber |
| Parent | New Forests (since 2022) |
The Michigan-California Lumber Company operated in the early 1900s as a logging enterprise focused on Ponderosa and Sugar pine within the Sierra Nevada. It was distinguished by its employment of Shay locomotives for moving timber to the sawmill.
American River Land and Lumber Company
In 1892, the American River Land and Lumber Company initiated a sawmill at Folsom, California and established a railroad line to transport logs from Pino Grande, California down to the South Fork American River. Logs were deposited into the river by a chute for downstream conveyance; however, due to the steep terrain, log driving was inefficient and discontinued by 1899.
El Dorado Lumber Company
The El Dorado Lumber Company constructed a sawmill at Pino Grande in 1901, utilizing gravity to move lumber downhill via railcars. Initially, lumber floated downstream to a dam and flume associated with the Rock Creek Power House, while horses hauled empty railcars uphill. Later, the company installed a steam-powered aerial tramway that lifted lumber above the river between North Cable and South Cable. A narrow-gauge railroad extended from South Cable to Camino, California, traversing steep inclines up to 7 percent with trestles spanning curves and ravines. This line connected with the standard gauge Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad, which ran from Camino to Placerville, California (established in 1903).
Michigan-California Lumber Company
After several reorganizations beginning in 1911, the Michigan-California Lumber Company was officially formed in 1917. Significant improvements were made in 1928, including reducing railroad grades to less than 3 percent, converting the aerial tramway to electric operation, and upgrading the sawmill in Camino. The cable system incorporated a cage capable of transporting a single flatcar loaded with up to 17 tons of lumber. At its height, narrow-gauge tracks stretched from South Cable to Camino, from Pino Grande to North Cable, from Camp 14 to Pino Grande, along with approximately of logging spurs. Rail service ended after a lightning strike caused a fire that destroyed the South Cable terminal on March 15, 1949; dismantling commenced in October of that year. Following this event, timber was hauled by trucks over routes nearly twice as long.
In 1965, ownership passed to investors including the Gonyeas, Pritzkers, Peeks, Blodgetts & John Shelk. The Camino mill changed hands when sold to Sierra Pacific Industries in 1994. The Gonyea family gained full ownership of the company in 2011. In 2022, New Forests acquired Michigan-California Lumber Company.
Narrow gauge locomotives
The Michigan-California Lumber Co. mainly utilized Shay steam locomotives—compact engines weighing about 65,000 pounds designed for hauling heavy loads on rugged terrain. Although other locomotive types were occasionally employed, Shay locomotives served as the primary motive power.
| Number | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st #1 | Stearns Manufacturing Company | 2-truck Heisler locomotive | 1898 | 1014 | Acquired new; retired in 1930; scrapped by 1942 |
| 2nd #1 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 3-truck Shay locomotive | 1917 | 2926 | Originally Swayne Lumber Company #3; purchased in 1942; scrapped in 1951 |
| 2 | Lima Locomotive Works | 2-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1884 | 122 | Built as Rumsey Lumber Company (Michigan) #2; acquired in 1901; exhibited at Turtle Bay Museum, Redding, CA (2024) |
| 1st #3 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1886 | 159 | Constructed as D.A. Blodgett (Michigan); bought in 1915; scrapped following a 1929 accident |
| 2nd #3 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 3-truck Shay locomotive | 1920 | 3078 | Formerly Swayne Lumber Company #2; purchased in 1941; scrapped in 1951 |
| 1st #4 | Climax Locomotive Works | 2-truck Climax locomotive | 1902 | 339 | New purchase; dismantled by 1942 |
| 2nd #4 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1910 | 2369 | Built as Truckee Lumber Company #3; acquired in 1940; scrapped in 1953 |
| 5 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1903 | 797 | Purchased new; scrapped by 1943 |
| 1st #6 | H.K. Porter, Inc. | 0-4-0 Tank locomotive | 1899 | 2049 | Built for Issaquah Coal Company (Washington); retired in 1915; displayed at Camino |
| 2nd #6 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1911 | 2494 | Originally Mountain Copper Company #6; purchased in 1934; wrecked and scrapped in 1942 |
| 3rd #6 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 3-truck Shay locomotive | 1927 | 3306 | Built as Madera Sugar Pine Company #6; acquired in 1944; scrapped by 1951 |
| 7 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1904 | 868 | Purchased new; dismantled by 1951 |
| 8 | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1906 | 1628 | Bought new; scrapped by 1950 |
| 9 | " " | " " | " " | 2662 | Purchased new; scrapped by 1950 |
| "10" | " " | " " | 1914 | 2756 | Bought new; scrapped by 1950 |
| "11" | "Vulcan Iron Works#Locomotives" | "0-4-0 Tank locomotive" | 1901 | 244 | Built for Waddle & Fitch of Delaware, Indiana; displayed at Camino |
| "12" | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1918 | 2960 | Originally Mountain Copper Company #10; purchased in 1931; scrapped by 1950 |
| "14" | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1909 | 2183 | Built as Marsh Lumber Company #3; acquired for parts in 1940; scrapped circa 1948 |
| "15" | Lima Locomotive Works | 3-cylinder 2-truck Shay locomotive | 1923 | 3212 | Constructed as Scanlon Lumber Company #2; purchased in 1944; scrapped by 1950 |
Artifacts
The Shay No. 2 locomotive, recognized as the Michigan-Cal line's oldest engine, was withdrawn from service in 1951 and is currently displayed outside the mill in Camino, serving as a point of interest for narrow gauge railway aficionados. The Canyon Creek Narrow Gauge Railroad Association intends to restore the historic Pino Grande narrow gauge line that was formerly operated by the Michigan-California Lumber Company along the Georgetown Divide.