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San Joaquin & Eastern Road

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San Joaquin & Eastern Road is a repurposed railroad grade in Auberry, California which has been rebuilt as a roadway.  This road is named after the San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad which was in use between 1912-1933 during the early construction of the Big Creek Hydroelectric project.  Said fifty-five-mile line originated in El Prado and snaked through the Sierra Nevada of Fresno County to the site of Big Creek Powerhouse #1.  The so-called SJ&E was famous for having 1,073 curves, 43 trestles and grades as high as 5.3%.

The San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad can be seen passing through Auberry on the 1914 Weber map of Fresno County.  




Part 1; the history of the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project and San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad

The surveys that would eventually lead to the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project ("Big Creek Project") first took place in the 1880s.  By the early 1900s the concept was taken up by the Pacific Light and Power Company (PL&P) as a possible source of electricity to power the city of Los Angeles.  PL&P had additional surveys conducted along Big Creek and San Joaquin River between 1902 to 1905.  Construction of the Big Creek Project would require a new railroad and a new road to haul in materials.  Said railroad would come to be known as the San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad (SJ&E).

The SJ&E was a standard gauge line which broke ground on February 5, 1912.  The line would open to freight traffic several months later on July 10th.  The line was intended to haul materials for the construction of the first phase of the Big Creek Project.  

The SJ&E branched off from the Southern Pacific Railroad at El Prado (near modern Friant) and ascended 55 miles eastward into the Sierra Nevada to the site of Big Creek Powerhouse #1.  The line had 1,073 curves, 43 trestles and grades as high 5.3%. 

The full scope of the SJ&E can be seen on 1914 Britton & Rey Map of Fresno County.





Numerous Sidings and Stations were established along the SJ&E which can be seen on the above map.  From El Prado the sidings and stations on the SJ&E were as follows:

-  McKenzie
-  Wellbarn Station (currently Marshall Station)
-  Lodge Station
-  Auberry
-  Indian Mission Station (currently Big Sandy Rancheria)
-  Hutchens Station
-  Lerona
-  Shaver Crossing (near Camp Sierra)
-  Cascada Station (current Big Creek community)

The First Phase of the Big Creek Project ended in 1914 amid World War I when the tunnel to the future site of Powerhouse #3 was being constructed.  During 1917 the PL&P and SJ&E were merged into Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison).  The SJ&E would remain active during Phase Two of the Big Creek Project which took place between 1921 through 1929.  

The SJ&E during Phase Two of the Big Creek Project can be seen in great detail on 1922 USGS Maps of Fresno County.



During the onset of the Great Depression work on the Big Creek Project stopped which signaled the end of Phase Two.  The SJ&E during the line operating life only recuperated 22% of construction costs.  The Huntington Lake Road which had also been constructed to reach the site of the namesake reservoir would later become part of Legislative Route Number 76 and early California state Route 168.  SoCal Edison filed abandonment paperwork for the SJ&E on August 15, 1933 according to Abandonedrails.com.

Near Auberry the grade of the SJ&E would be repurposed to construct a new road between Lodge Road and Auberry Road.  The grade comprising modern SJ&E Road can be seen on the 1914 Weber map of Fresno County.  




Part 2; photos of the San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad

The SJ&E can be seen below during 1918 somewhere near Powerhouse #1.  From Powerhouse #1 there was a short spur line which connected further uphill to Dam #1 at Huntington Lake.


The SJ&E can be seen below near Powerhouse #1.


In the photo from the Fresno County Library Collection a Model T can be seen on the SJ&E during 1924 along a segment which is now Jose Basin Road.


Below SJ&E Locomotive #109 can be seen.


A derailed SJ&E #108 can be seen below (image from the Fresno County Library Collection).


The below photo from gearedsteam.com shows SJ&E #106.


The photo below from the Fresno County Library Collection shows SJ&E traveling through the snow.




Part 3; a drive on San Joaquin & Eastern Road

Southbound SJ&E Road begins at Auberry Road in the heart of the namesake community.  A derelict and somewhat modern railroad signal can be found at the Fresno County Sheriff's substation located near the intersection.  




Southbound SJ&E Road follows a gentle course which terminates after approximately 2.3 miles at modern California State Route 168 (Lodge Road).  













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