Mt. Quarries Railroad - Auburn SRA - California State Park - Patch

Description

This  is for a
unused Patch
of the
Mt. Quarries Railroad - 100 Year Anniversary - 1912-2012
.  The patch reads,
MOUNTAIN QUARRIES RR - 100 YEARS - 19012-2012.
The Mt. Quarries RR is in the Auburn State Recreation Area.  The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was the largest reinforced concrete railroad bridge in California when built in 1912.  It was designed by John B. Leonard, one of California's most renowned pioneers n the design, engineering and
promotion
of he use of reinforced concrete.  The bridge was part of a seven mile standard-gauge railroad that ran from the Mt. Quarries in El Dorado County to the City of Auburn, all within Auburn SRA.
I also have a book on the history of the Mt. Quarries Railroad up for auction.
History of the Mountain Quarries Railroad in the Auburn State Recreation Area, Placer and El Dorado Counties.  The railroad was seven miles long from the mine in El Dorado County on the NF Americian river to Auburn in Placer County.  It had 17 wooden trestles and one large concrete bridge.  The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was the largest reinforced concrete railroad bridge in California when built in 1912.  It was designed by John B. Leonard, one of Calfiornia'smost renowned pioneers in the design, engineering and promotion of the use of reinforced concrete.  The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and was designated a California State Historic Landmark in 2014.
Mountain Quarries Mine and Railroad
The Mountain Quarries Company was incorporated in the State of California on August 8, 1910, with the main purpose of quarrying limestone on the south side of the Middle Fork of the American River, in El Dorado County.
The company constructed a railroad that connected
its limestone quarry operation in El Dorado County two miles north of Cool, to Auburn in Placer County, along the Middle and North Forks of the American River.
In July 1912, after the completion of construction, the Pacific Portland Cement Company purchased the Mountain Quarries Company.
The western terminus of the railroad was at Flint Station alongside the Southern Pacific main line. The railroad is approximately 7 miles long.
There were 17 trestles on the railroad, one of which was nearly a 100 feet high. The railroad had an average 4 % grade with a 1,100 feet elevation change.
The upper portion of the railroad was as steep as 5% and required the use of powerful locomotives.
It took about 30
minutes for the empty train to go from Auburn to the quarry and longer fully loaded to come back out.
The railroad tracks were removed in 1942 during World War II to be recycled for use in the war effort.
Unique features or characteristics
• The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was the largest reinforced concrete railroad bridge in California at the time it was built.
• The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was the “Longest span concrete arch bridge for railroad traffic owned by private capitol” at the time it was constructed.
(Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Magazine, Dec. 1913).
• The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was “A relatively rare early use of the material [concrete] in railroading, the bridge was designed to carry the largest
locomotive of the day, as well as cars laden with limestone…” (Building Bridges for the 20th Century, California History Magazine, Fall, 1984.)
• The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was designed by a renowned master concrete engineer and designer John B. Leonard. It is the only existing example
of a railroad bridge designed by Leonard. (Building Bridges for the 20th Century, California History Magazine, Fall, 1984.)
• The Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge was listed on the National Register of  Historic Places on February, 11, 2004. (National Register #04000014).