Major Events in the History of the
Yosemite Valley Railroad Company
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| 1902 | (December 19), Articles of Incorporation filed
with the State of California to
form the Yosemite Valley Railroad Company, To be head quartered in San Francisco.
John Drum named president of the railroad. |
| 1903 | Frank G. Drum, brother to John, named
president. 1 |
| | (February), N. C. Ray, Chief Engineer for YVRR
begins lobbying in Washington to make changes in National Parks boundries.
|
1903
&
1904 | Political fighting in
Washington D.C., Fresno's Mr. Needham, a member of congress,
caused many headaches. Congressman Needham, it seems, was worried more about his Frenso
constituents than the rest of his district.
Finally, a group of Mariposa, Merced and Modesto business men sent a
telegram to Needham to work for the "Bills" relating to the YVRR. |
| 1905 | (February), Park Bill2 finally signed
and approved President Teddy Roosevelt. Clearing way for the YVRR to start construction.
|
| | Contract awarded to James H. O'Brien to build the
railroad |
| | (October), Construction Begins at K and 24th Streets
in Merced. |
| |
O.W. Lehmer of the Santa Fe Railway named superintendent of YVRR. |
| |
(November 25), Number 1 - YVRR first locomotive arrives at Merced on the Santa Fe. |
| 1906 |
(March 4), Tracks competed From Merced to Merced Falls.
|
| |
(April 18), San Francisco suffers major damage from earthquake and fire. Luckily
the Yosemite Valley railroad was constructed as far as it was - otherwise it may have
been cancelled.
|
| | (April 26), Scheduled trains service to Merced Falls.
|
| | Early records of the railroad were lost in the fire after the
earthquake. |
| |
(May), Large Native Sons of the Golden West parade and picnic at Snelling - YVRR
carried passengers to the gathering.
|
| |
| Herald introduced |
|
|
| 1907 | (February), YVRR orders "matched passenger
train" from Hicks.
|
| | (April 25), Yosemite Terminal Company incorporated.
|
| | Round Trip fare set at $18.50; including
stage trip from El Portal to Yosemite Valley and return.
|
| | (May 15), First official train from Merced to El Portal.
|
| | Yosemite Transportation Company stages YVRR passenger
to Yosemite Valley from railroad terminal at El Portal
|
| | Ticket Offices opened in San Francisco, Los Angeles,
El Capitan Hotel in Merced, and Yosemite. Other railroads also sold YVRR tickets.
|
| | Yosemite Terminal Company builds the Del Portal
Hotel at El Portal
|
| 1908 | Frank G. Drum becomes president of Yosemite
Transportation Company
|
| | Yosemite Transportation Company corporate
headquarters moved to El Portal from Los Angeles
|
| | (January), Yosemite Lumber Company chartered,
Mill to be located at Merced Falls.
|
| | United States Mail service, Railway Post Office, began.
|
| 1909 |
 (October 6),
President of the United States,
William H. Taft rides YVRR to Yosemite. Returns
four days later over the YVRR.
|
| 1910 | Siding built for barites plant, near El Portal.
|
| | (April 1), Pullman service began from Oakland to
El Portal.
|
| 1913 |
Yosemite Lumber Company builds the inclined railway at El Portal.
|
| | Yosemite Lumber Company builds large saw mill
complex at Merced Falls.
|
| |
(November 19), First Yosemite Transportaion Co. motor stage begins opertion
between railroad terminal and the Yosemite Valley.
|
| 1914 | Big Trees Auto Stage Line began operating
from El Portal to Merced and Tuolumne Groves to Yosemite Valley.
|
| | (June), Major accident above Bagby, two killed,
four seriously injured, 16 minor injured
|
| | (August 14), Roundhouse burned.
|
| | (October), Replacement roundhouse described.
|
| 1916 | (September), Desmond Park Service Company
took over operatations of Del Portal Hotel and Yosemite Transportation Company. The U.S.
Park Service required that only one company be allowed to operate within the National Park.
Desond was the company selected by the Park Service.
|
| 1917 | Round Trip fare lowered to $13.50;
Transporting automobiles from Merced to El Portal $12.50
|
| | (April 6), United States enters World War I
|
| |
(November 3), Del Portal Hotel at El Portal burned - total loss.
|
| | (December 26), President Woodrow Wilson used the
Federal Possession and Control Act
to nationalize the majority of U.S. Railroad, including the YVRR.
|
| 1918 | YVRR starts construction of El Portal Hotel.
|
| | (November 11), World War I ends.
|
| 1919 |
(October 19), King Albert of Belgians with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Leopold takes
YVRR train to Yosemite.
|
| 1920 | (March 1), U.S. Railroads, including the YVRR, returned
to their owners by the USRA.
|
| | (March), Tom Mix began making movies along the
YVRR and in Yosemite Valley.
|
| | (July 6), another wreck, Engine and baggage coach
off the rails - New Jersey Democratic delegation.
|
| | (December 24), O. W. Lehmer resigns as general
Manager. Became a member of board of directors of railroad.
|
| 1921 | (January 1), William L. White became General
Manager
|
| |
| Herald changed to Vernal Fall |
|
|
| 1923 | Yosemite Lumber Company moves operations
from El Portal to new location,
Incline, on north side of Merced river.
|
| | (June 23), President of United States Warren
Harding to travel over YVRR to Yosemite Valley, he
never made the trip - he died in San Francisco after a trip to Alaska.
|
| | (August), Frank G. Drum, President of YVRR dies in
San Francisco.
|
| | Fred T. Elsey became President of YVRR.
|
| 1924 | Relocation of 16.7 miles of the YVRR begins,
to allow construction of Merced
Irrigation District's new Exchequer Dam.
|
| |
YVRR Buys 50 gravel cars, all secondhand, to hual materials to the dam site.
|
| | Construction of Exchequer Dam began.
|
| 1925 | Exchequer Dam places heavy work load on YVRR.
|
| |
State Highway 140 opened as all year automobile route to Yosemite National Park.
|
| |
(September 19), Special train carries members of the Merced Chamber of Commerce to
Exchequer dam site and Pleasant Valley.
|
| 1926 | (April 18), relocated section of railroad opened,
from Merced Falls to Detwiler. Most notable: Barrett Bridge 1, 660 feet long, 236 feet
above low water and 7, 207, 000 pounds of steel;four tunnels totaling 3, 615 feet.
|
| | (April 21), YVRR renamed so stations to honor
former officers.
|
| | (June 23), Special train to the completed Exchequer
Dam for dedication.
|
| | 
Crown Prince Gustaf Adophus of Sweden takes YVRR to Yosemite Valley.
|
| 1927 | (March), Round Trip fares reduced to $10.25
|
| | (April), Yosemite Portland Cement Company open quarry
for lime stone at Emory.
|
| 1928 |
(July 4), Yosemite Portland Cement Company plant at Merced becomes operational.
|
| 1929 | (August 19), General offices and Depot burned
|
| |  (September), Winston Churchill takes YVRR to
visit Yosemite
|
| | (December), new General Offices and Depot opened
|
| 1930 | William Letson became President of YVRR
|
| 1931 |
 Brother of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Prince Nokhuhito
Takamatsu and bride
ride the YVRR to Yosemite.
|
| 1932 | El Portal Hotel burned - total loss.
|
| 1933 | (July), William L. White became president
of American Short Line Railroad, resigned from YVRR and moved to Washington D.C.
|
| | (July 19), Ray D. Toner named General Manager of
YVRR by President Letson
|
| 1934 | (October 22), Yosemite Valley Railway Company
incorporated
|
| 1935 | Ray D. Toner, General Manager dies
|
| | (May 1), William L. White returns to take over
General Managers position.
|
| | (December 23), YVRR sold at auction on city hall
steps in San Francisco
|
| 1936 | YVRy takes control with Bonsall as trustee
|
| |
| Herald changed to reflect new name |
|
|
| | Corporate headquarters moved to Los Angeles,
operational management remained in Merced.
|
| | (May 13), Yosemite Valley Railroad Company files
Certificate of Dissolution with State of California
|
| 1937 | (October 4, 1937), Baggage/RPO 105 and
Observation 331 damaged by fire - scraped.
|
| | (December 11), Railroad badly damaged flood damage
|
| 1938 | (May 5), railroad totally repaired and
reopened to El Portal
|
| |
(July 14), President Franklin D. Roosevelt rides over the YVRy
in his special
train to visit Yosemite National Park.
|
|
1941 | (March 30), Near Snelling, train loaded with limestone wrecked.
|
| |
(December 7), World War II - Pearl Harbor attacked! U.S. Enter World War II
officially the next day.
|
| 1942 | (November 11), Last log train from Incline
to Merced Falls.
|
| 1943 | Yosemite Sugar Pine Lumber Company closes
mill at Merced Falls.
|
| | Southern Pacific Leases engines 25, 26, and
29 - they ran "locals" in northern part of San Joaquin Valley
|
| | (July 1), Lee A. Foster becomes General Manager.
|
| | Started daily Mixed Train service, except Sundays
|
| | (October 24), discontinued of mail service
|
| 1944 | (June 2), last train of lime stone from
Emory to Merced, 25 years to the day.
|
| | (July 1), Yosemite Portland Cement Company
ceased all operations.
|
| | (August 16), first Mixed Train up one day back the next
|
| | (August 31), Application to abandon Railroad filed
with ICC.
|
| | (September 4), Tri- weekly train service,
(Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
|
| | (September 4), First YVRy Fan trip
|
| | (December 1), ICC abandonment hearings
at City Hall in Merced, only National Lead supported railroad
|
| 1945 | (February 2), Flood closed railroad
|
| | (February 15), Machine Tool & Equipment
offers to buy YVRy bonds at $0.28 on $1.00
|
| | (February 16), Railroad reopens from flood damage.
|
| | (February 28), ICC examiner Romero recommends
abandonment
|
| | (March 3), Merced Chamber of Commerce decides
to enter protest over abandonment
|
| | (March 23), Machine Tool & Equipment gains
control of YVRy bonds and stock!
|
| | (April 14), Locomotives returned from
Southern Pacific
|
| | (May 22), J. M. McFadden of the Pacific
Coast Railroad Association offers to buy the YVRy.
The 18 year old, McFadden's offer caused Trustee Bonsall headaches.
|
| | (May 30), last and largest rail fan trip over the YVRy.
|
| | (June 28), ICC approves abandonment.
|
| | (August 6), Hiroshima, Japan is attacked
with an atomic bomb - delivered by "Enoly Gay," a B-29, with Colonel Paul
Tibbits as pilot and mission commander.
|
| | (August 9), Nagasaki, Japan is atomic
bombed - delivered by "Bock's Car," a B-29, with Major Charles Sweeney as
pilot and mission commander.
|
| | (August 15), Japan surrenders - for all intents
and purpose World War II ended.
|
| | (August 21), Bridge at Bagby burns, YVRy is shut down.
|
| | (August 24), Last official train. Merced
to Merced Falls only.
|
| | (September), YVRy - Fated to Junk, as per
A. E. Perlman3 of the Machine Tool & Equipment the new owner.
|
| | (September), World War II officially ends.
|
| | (November 29), Removal of rails begins at El Portal
|
| 1946 | (February), Howard Bonsall, dies in Los Angeles.
|
| | Rails and ties removed, some equipment scraped,
some rolling stock was sold to other railroads.
|
| | (December 31), Yosemite Valley Railway files
articles to dissolve the company with the State of California.
|
|
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- Frank G. Drum was also chairman of Pacific Gas and Electric Company;
also, trustee
of Western Pacific Railroad during the WP's bankruptcy.
- Bill authorized redrawing of western park boundary.
- Perlman, it is thought, was working for the Rio Grande & Western R.R. because
that railroad needed
rails that had been brought on by shortages caused by the War demands. The YVRy had
a good rails on its railroad. Pearlman also, did his share of damage to the New York
Central railroad a few years later.
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© Clayton J. Guest, June 13, 2002
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