Quincy Railroad (California) Explained

Railroad Name:Quincy Railroad
Marks:QRR
Locale:Quincy and Susanville, California
Start Year:November 9, 1917
End Year:present
Hq City:Quincy, California

The Quincy Railroad is a 3.27-mile terminal railroad located at Quincy, California. The QRR interchanges with the Union Pacific (former Western Pacific) at Quincy Junction in Plumas County, California, United States.

History

The Quincy Railroad began as the "Quincy Western Railroad" in 1909. This company acquired the assets of the "Quincy and Eastern Railroad", which went defunct shortly after its incorporation in 1908.[1] Construction began in 1909, with the plans calling for a connection between the Western Pacific Railroad's station at Hartwell (later renamed to Quincy Junction), and the city of Quincy, a distance of about 7 miles. The railroad operated for over a decade, mostly hauling freight, such as lumber, but also providing passenger service to Quincy Junction.[2] This was until the Board of Directors decided to discontinue service in 1917.[3]

On November 10, 1917 the Quincy Railroad filed for articles of incorporation, taking over the old Quincy Western Railroad.[4] A fire would destroy the railroad's one operating steam locomotive along with its roundhouse in November 1919, forcing it to utilize a gasoline engine.[5]

For many years, the Quincy operated a separate 23.3 mile branch running over former Southern Pacific branch from Wendel-Susanville, California which is now abandoned.

Modern Operations

The railroad currently handles over 1,000 cars per year of outbound lumber and forest products. The QRR is owned by Sierra Pacific Industries, which has a sawmill in Quincy.

The QRR has two locomotives:

Three earlier Quincy locomotives are now located at the nearby Western Pacific Railroad Museum:

Another earlier Quincy locomotive is displayed at the Niles Canyon Railway

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PLUMAS.WILL HAVE RAILROAD, TOO . California Digital Newspaper Collection . Humboldt Times . 9 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Lassen Volcanic National Park Historic Resources Study . National Park Service History . National Park Service . 9 November 2023.
  3. Web site: Plans to Succeed Quincy Western . California Digital Newspaper Collection . Feather River Bulletin . 9 November 2023.
  4. News: [TOWN OF QUINCY TO HAVS OWN RAIL LINE TOWN OF QUINCY TO HAVE OWN RAIL LINE ]. 12 November 2023 . The Morning Union . November 11, 1917.
  5. News: Round House at Quincy Is Burned . 12 November 2023 . The Morning Union . September 24, 1919.
  6. Web site: WPRM - Qrr3.
  7. Web site: WPRM - QRR 4.
  8. https://www.wplives.org/locomotivepages/qrr11.html
  9. Web site: Quincy Railroad #2.