# Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (YMSPRR) is a historic 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway with two operating steam locomotives located near Fish Camp, California, in the Sierra National Forest near the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. Rudy Stauffer organized the YMSPRR in 1961, utilizing historic railroad track, rolling stock and locomotives to construct a tourist line along the historic route of the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company.
Service began with the purchase of three-truck Shay locomotive No. 10 from the West Side Lumber Company railway of Tuolumne, California. Built in 1928, No. 10 is reputedly the largest narrow gauge Shay locomotive—and one of the last constructed. In 1986, the YMSPRR purchased Shay No. 15—also a former West Side Lumber Company locomotive—from the West Side & Cherry Valley Railroad tourist line in Tuolumne.
The steam locomotives operate daily during the summer months, while the railroad's "Jenny" railcars, capable of carrying about a dozen passengers, typically handle operations during the off-season. Passengers can ride in either open-air or enclosed passenger cars.

## History

The current railroad follows a portion of grade originally carved into the mountain by the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company in the early 20th century. The company originated in 1874, when it was organized as the California Lumber Company to log the area surrounding Oakhurst, California. The Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company once had a large sawmill at Sugar Pine, California, just south of the current YMSPRR. The railroad had seven locomotives, over 100 log cars, and 140 miles (230 km) of track in the surrounding mountains. In addition to the railroad, the Company also transported lumber in a flume that stretched 54 miles (87 km) from Sugar Pine to Madera, California. This was the most efficient way to transport rough cut lumber out of the mountains for finishing and transport at the bottom of the mountain. The Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company practiced clearcutting, which removed almost every single tree within the stands of timber surrounding the YMSPRR track. The thick forest surrounding YMSPRR today belies this history, although large stumps from the original old growth timber dot the forest floor lining the tracks.
Due to the onset of the Great Depression and a lack of trees, the operation closed in 1931. But the graded right-of-way through the forest remained, enabling the Stauffer family to reconstruct a portion of the line in 1961. The current railroad utilizes locomotives, converted log disconnect cars, and other railroad equipment purchased from the West Side Lumber Company after it ceased railroad operations in 1961.
After his retirement in 1981, Rudy Stauffer was succeeded by his son, Max, as the railroad's owner and operator. Max Stauffer died on March 10, 2017.
In late August 2017, the Railroad Fire, which started near the railroad, destroyed West Side Lumber Company equipment stored on a side track.

## Locomotives

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad features a collection of historic locomotives, including two operational steam locomotives:
Locomotives of the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad :
| Locomotive | Type | Year Built | Manufacturer | Details |
| No. 10 | Narrow Gauge Shay Locomotive | 1928 | Lima Locomotive Works | Reputedly the largest Shay locomotive ever constructed. Originally built for the Pickering Lumber Company, later used by the West Side Lumber Company before joining YMSPRR. It burns oil and has a capacity of 1,200 US gal (4,500 L) of oil and 3,400 US gal (13,000 L) of water. |
| No. 15 | Narrow Gauge Shay Locomotive | 1913 | Lima Locomotive Works | Worked for several companies, including Norman P. Livermore & Co., Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Co., Hobart Estate Co., Hyman-Michaels Co., and the West Side Lumber Company. Acquired by YMSPRR in 1988. It burns oil and has a capacity of 1,000 US gal (3,800 L) gallons of oil and 2,000 US gal (7,600 L) of water. |
| "Jenny" Railcars | Converted Ford Model A | 1927-1931 | Ford Motor Company | Ford Model A automobiles converted for rail use by the West Side Lumber Company. Each railcar accommodates about 12 people, providing regular service alongside steam operations. |
| No. 5 | Diesel Switch Engine | 1935 | Not specified | A two-axle diesel switch engine, not in operating condition. |
| No. 402 | Center Cab Diesel Locomotive | Not specified | Not specified | A center cab two-truck diesel locomotive. Not used by YMSPRR for regular scheduled service. |

## Points of interest

* The Thornberry Museum, housed in a relocated 140-year-old log cabin, offers visitors a glimpse into life on the Sierra slopes over a century ago.
* The Sugar Pine Trading Company, providing a selection of literature and sources related to the YMSPRR, railroads and the history of Yosemite Valley
* The Lewis Creek Amphitheater, accessible by the steam train route, features seasonal performances including jazz and melodrama.
* Picnic and event grounds at the eastern terminus of the line
* Gold panning
* A rare narrow gauge snowplow, the West Side Lumber Company's plow No. 2