N C O-Ravendale Traditional Cache
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Ravendale
Located almost exactly halfway between Susanville and Alturas, Ravendale is one of many small communities that owe their existence to the NCO.
All that remains nearby are the foundations for the water tank and the pump-house.
NCO
The Nevada–California–Oregon Railway was a narrow gauge (36") railroad originally planned to connect Reno, Nevada, to the Columbia River. However, only 238 miles of track were laid so service never extended beyond Lakeview, Oregon. Because of the company’s reputation for mismanagement, it was often called the "Narrow, Crooked & Ornery" railroad.
The railroad was organized in Reno in June 1880 as the Nevada and Oregon Railroad. It was decided that the best plan was to build north to the Columbia River to service cattle ranches and farms in northeastern California and eastern Oregon. The northern terminus was to be The Dalles, Oregon, since that city was located on the Columbia River and had no eastern or southern rail connections at that time.
The company decided to lay narrow (36") gauge track because it was cheaper than standard gauge construction. Site survey and grading work for the railroad began in December 1880. The first spike was driven in Reno on May 28, 1881. However, the company was short of money so construction was slow. In addition, the board of directors was plagued by corruption and intrigue. One board meeting actually ended with a gun fight between two members. For a period of time, there were two separate boards of directors trying to run the company.
The railroad reached Oneida, California, 30 miles north of Reno, on October 2, 1882. Regular service between the two cities began a month later. However, track construction remained slow, and the company’s business problems continued to grow. The Moran Brothers bank in New York was the company’s largest investor. In April 1884, the bank took full control of the railroad, purchasing the company at a court ordered auction for just over $372,000. The company spent the next few years improving existing lines and trying to build up local business.
On January 1, 1893, the name of the railroad was changed to the Nevada–California–Oregon.
The next northward extension commenced in 1899. In April 1902, the line reached Madeline, California. The tracks were extended to Likely, California, in October 1907; Alturas, California, in December 1908; and finally, Lakeview, Oregon, on 10 January 1912. The company planned to continue north through Prineville, Oregon, to The Dalles, with separate branches running west to Klamath Falls and on to the Rogue River Valley, and over the Cascade Mountains to Eugene, Oregon, in the Willamette Valley. However, no further construction ever took place Financially, the railroad's best year was 1913, but decline followed quickly. In 1917, the company began selling branch lines in California. The next year, the Reno station was closed, and the company headquarters and maintenance shop were relocated to Alturas. By 1922, the railroad was in serious financial trouble, and the Moran Bank wanted out of the business.
On April 30, 1925, the Southern Pacific Company purchased the company. By 1928, Southern Pacific had converted all the remaining Nevada–California–Oregon track to standard gauge and sold its narrow gauge equipment.Union Pacific assumed control of the Line in 1996 and has not operated a through train over the Modoc since 1997. Rails and ties were removed between Wendel and the McArthur siding during 2003 and 2004.
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(Decrypt)
nzzb pna va fntr.
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