Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad on track for March 31 opening

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad prepares to open for season

Fish Camp, CA. – The sounds of train whistles will once again soon be heard echoing through the Sierra National Forest as the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad prepares to kick off its 2012 season.

The popular attraction, located just minutes south of Yosemite’s southern entrance, is a historic journey through time as a pair of nearly century old steam locomotives, rail cars, gold panning and museum await those looking for a bit of authentic history.

The season kicks in to full steam March 31, offering rides on the two authentic steam locomotives, Jenny Railcars and more.

The two engines are narrow-gauge Shay locomotives originally built for hauling lumber through the steep mountain terrain. The youngest, engine 10, was built in 1928 while the older of the two, Engine 15, was built in 1913.  

The Jenny Railcars, also known as “speeders” in the logging days of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, they were used to quickly ferry men and materials to work sites. Built around a Ford Model A, these conveyances are a fun way to ride the rails.

In addition to the trains and railcars, guests can try their luck at gold panning. Amateur miners can get a lesson from an expert and will always find at least a few flakes of the precious metal, making their efforts much more successful than many of the miners who came to this area during California’s gold rush.

The Thornberry Museum is another popular attraction here, showcasing what life was like for the men who logged the forest. Most notable are the tools they used. Far from the portable, easy to use equipment commonly seen today, many items were bulky and cumbersome, oftentimes requiring more than one person to operate.

In May, the railroad will resume its popular Moonlight Specials. An evening train ride through the cool mountain air also includes a barbecued steak or chicken dinner and a stop at the picnic sight to enjoy live music by the band Sugar Pine.

A special concert is also planned for this summer. On August 17, Carmel Helene will perform at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Helene is an up and coming singer known for her strong vocals. She recently spent more than a year touring with Miley Cyrus, and performed at major venues and television shows, including American Idol, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and more.

To learn more about the railroad, book tickets or see a full schedule, visit www.YosemiteSteamTrains.com or www.Facebook.com/ymsprr. All events and runs are scheduled weather permitting.

For lodging and other attractions, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com

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The work of keeping an attraction on track.

There's a lot of work involved in keeping a popular attraction going, especially one that features vehicles that are nearly a century old. The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Rail Road in Fish Camp, just south of the Highway 41 entrance in to Yosemite National Park, features two authentic Shay Locomotives. The "youngest", Engine 10, was built in 1928 while Engine 15 made it's first run on the rails in 1913.

After the heavy snows that the railroad saw last week, they unfortunately been forced to delay their opening. The information below is from owner Max Stauffer who gave us an update on what he's working on:

     "We finally got power yesterday! We began clearing the track in the afternoon. Lots of trees to  clear.       We got about 1/2 mile, so back at it today. We had a climber shovel the snow off of the engine house roof and remove the tree so that we can begin repairs. Electricians repaired the wiring damage to the shop so we now have power there also. 

PG&E crews are still occupying our parking lot, with lots of work to do in our area yet. Some folks are still out of power. 

Tons of snow and slow going, but we are determined! I will advise as soon as we get a tentative

opening date. Lots depends on the number of trees down. Many are buried deep in the snow."

Several feet of snow dropped on Fish Camp with this storm. While roads are now clear, the sides still have a lot of snow, as you can tell from Max's statements. The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Rail Road is one of the most popular attractions in Madera County and we're looking forward to Max and his crew starting the season. We know Spring has arrived when you can head on up the road and hear the mighty whistle of one of his Narrow Gauge Shay's.

 Just a little snow on the roof...

This branch went through the roof of the Engine House.