Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Eureka to Willits
Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Eureka to Willits
Prior to arrival of the railroad, transportation into Humboldt was limited to rough unpaved roads or hazardous ocean travel. There were railroads, but these were built by lumber companies to carry their timber to the bay for shipping out. This book covers that early stage and then moves on to the effort to connect the two "Bay Areas" by rail, thus fostering the local timber boom and allowing passengers and tourists to discover Humboldt County.
In over 200 historic photographs with informative captions, the book illustrates the long effort to plan and construct the NWP, the many people and communities involved, the grand opening ceremony, and the floods, fires and landslides that plagued it. The story ends with its eventual decline and the abandoned tracks, monuments and memories it left behind.
For railroad buffs and anyone interested in what was a major backbone of Humboldt history, this book is a must.
