Sierra Railroad Rail Town 1897: The Final Weekend | New Year's 1979

Presented as part of the 2024 Sierra Railway Historical & Modelers Seminar
On New Year's Eve weekend 1979, a much loved and well reminisced chapter in the history of the Sierra Railroad. After 8 years, the Crocker Associates sold the Sierra Railroad, and ended the operation of their Rail Town 1897 at the end of 1979 after over 8 years of operation. A 30% drop in passenger revenue as well as an oil crisis combined with increase operation expenses is ultimately what brought the Rail Town 1897 Operation to an end.
The Pacific Locomotive Association, and Shortline Enterprises both operated trips out of Jamestown over the New Year's Eve weekend, and ex-Feather River Railway Shay 2, Sierra Railroad 28 and 34, as well as Shortline Enterprises ex-Dardanelle and Russellville 4-4-0 8 are all seen in operation, with train going as far as Fassler, Cooperstown, and Oakdale during the weekend.
After the closure of Rail Town 1897, the state of California took control of the Jamestown roundhouse and station facilities and began running trips to Chinese with engine 28 with the Pacific Locomotive Association as the concessionaire. Number 28 is seen at the very beginning of those operations, which continue today under the auspices of the California State Railroad Museum.
These 8mm and Super 8mm movies come from the cameras of John Filson, Don Kehl, and Michael Spolini Sr. and are from the collections of the Western Railway Museum and Michael Spolini Jr.
Enjoy this look at the end of an era on the Sierra Railroad!
Music in this video is used through Creative Commons:
by the laptop - Way Home
• [no copyright music] W...

[@TRAINBUILDER]

Great video!

[@LJRailfan-Gamer_07.]

It’s safe to say the railroad complex was spared because it was used in a handful of western movies throughout the years.

[@rotunda57]

At 1:37 - when was that building raised and torn down? It's not seen in the Petticoat Junction footage anywhere shot 15 years earlier.

[@nicholasmedovich6729]

Whatever happened to coaches 11, 15, and 16.