The Camas & Tacoma Railroad, Columbia River Paper Company And Subsequent Firms Leading To The Crown Zellerbach Corp. Camas, Washington 36" Gauge Tramway; Along With An Archive Of Original Brochures, Als, Tls, 36 Photographs And Related Documents Recording The Transfer And Preservation Of All Of The Locomotives And Much Of The Rolling Stock Of Washington's Last Narrow Gauge Forest Products’ Railroad

LEWIS, JOHN E., DONALD ELWIN ABRAHAMSEN, ROBB LEMKE, MURYEL DAVIS, ET AL

Publication: Privately printed by several firms, nd ca 1980-1985, Camas, Washington; Baker & Portland, Oregon; Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, 1980 - 1985

13 1/2" x 12 1/2" black cloth clamshell 3-ring binder containing [58] leaves, typescript, single spaced, with tables, unbound, preserved with clip at upper left corner. Detailed information summarizing the history of the Camas tramway as well as that of the paper firm(s) responsible for the initial construction of the line and its continued operation for more than 99 years, until it was finally replaced at the end of February 1982 are provided in this report. Also includes approximately 53 leaves of various documents; 36 color and black & white snapshot photographs, mostly in color and all sized 3 1/2" x 5" and preserved in archival transparent sleeves; ALS and TLS photocopies; original letters; miscellaneous documents all in letterhead; brochures printed on color-tinted paper; photocopies of original National Historic Landmark application; numerous newspaper clippings documenting the progress of the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, Inc. efforts; one color postcard; miscellaneous memos. This archive of an unpublished narrow gauge railway history of the Camas & Tacoma Railroad electric tramway operated by Crown Zellerbach at their Camas Paper Mill for nearly a century, and the Herculean efforts by Don Abrahamsen, Muryel Davis, John Lewis and Robb Lemke are meant to preserve the historic locomotives and rolling stock. The Columbia River Paper Co. tramway known as the Camas & Tacoma Railroad first operated with rolling stock July 26, 1913 after purchasing several 24 ft. 40,000 lb. capacity flatcars from the Seattle Car & Foundry Co. of Renton, Washington, and would continue with that car design for the next seventy years. Although originally established as a horse and mule-drawn tramway on narrow gauge by owners Henry Pittock, J. K. Gill and W. F. Ladd, with Don H. Stearns as the manager. The first electric locomotive was purchased from Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907, and overhead wires installed which would continue operating until the line was decommissioned in 1982. Railway cars were demarcated in red for the short 24 foot original style sizing, and others marked in green & yellow depending on the size, and although exact track mileage remained elusive after the end of operations, and removal of rails, company documents suggest it extended as far as eight miles. This unpublished history offers specifications on all of the surviving locomotives, and rolling stock, as well as some historic decommissioned, with manufacturer and operation details. Collection is from the library of Don Abrahamsen (1929-2007), Korean War Veteran, railroad enthusiast, and longtime Director of Logistics & Planning at the Camas Paper Mill. Contents and clamshell binder are in very good to fine condition.