Yes, this is a little corner of paradise here, even when it snows. I much
prefer spring, summer, and fall though; especially spring. Don't usually get
this much snow, it is snowing again right now.
As far as railroad history here, there is plenty. This area was settled
by the mormons and was heavy into the logging industry at one time. I don't
have my facts in front of me,(a friend never returned my book) but I believe
the logging company was called Brookin's and they used shay's as motive
power. Their No1 shay was sold and was bought by a well known lumber company
but I can't remember which one. They operated mostly out of an area up here
known as Green Valley Lake, but came all the way down to just a few miles
from my house.
Another point in railroading was the building of the lake here in the
turn of the century. A couple of 8 ton Porters were used in the construction
and as was the case with these small loco (considered expendable) one ended
up at the bottom of the lake. I did pick up the diamond stack on my fish
finder once. The other known as "Black Annie" was on display in the Lake
Arrowhead Village for years, before I got here. It was sold to a casino in
Las Vegas and was displayed there for a long time, and is still somewhere
there. Maybe Clark can tell us where.
Anyway, this place is the summer home of many famous people and it is
beautiful here. Even Bugsy Segal ran his business out of here in the 20's.
I just love it here, you hide in the back woods but in 25 miles you can be in
the bustling city and in an hour at the beach.
Bob
