4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gaugeWestern section of 1948 route with connection to Western Pacific lineEastern portion of route in 1948
The Feather River Railway was built in 1922 for the Hutchinson Lumber Company to bring logs from Feather Falls, California, to a connection with the Western Pacific Railroad (WP) at Bidwell, California. The WP would then transport the logs to the Hutchinson sawmill in Oroville, California. The sawmill burned in 1927; and the railway was unused through the Great Depression until reorganized as a common carrier in 1938 to serve a new sawmill built at Feather Falls. Georgia-Pacific purchased the sawmill and railway in 1955. The railway ceased operation after portions of the grade were flooded by Oroville Dam during the Christmas flood of 1964.[1]
Locomotives
Number
Builder
Type
Date
Works number
Notes[2]
1
Lima Locomotive Works
3-truck Shay locomotive
1921
3169
purchased new; placed on display at Oroville in 1961
2
Lima Locomotive Works
3-truck Shay locomotive
1922
3177
purchased new. Sold to Sierra Railway.
3
Lima Locomotive Works
3-truck Shay locomotive
1923
3221
purchased new, operational as Cass Scenic Railroad #11, Cass, West Virginia