Timber Heritage Association
Preserving Humboldt County's Timber History since 1977
Menu
Virtual Museum / Locomotives / Bear Harbor Lumber Company #1
Bear Harbor Lumber Company #1 "Gypsy"
Builder/Year: Marshutz & Cantrell 1892
Type: 0-4-0t
Weight: 12 tons
Construction #: 3014
Location: Fort Humboldt SHP
Satus: operational
The Bear Harbor railroad started, and the Bear Harbor #1 was purchased, in 1892 to haul tanbark used in tanning leather from inland to Bear Harbor. In 1894, a 1,200 foot incline was built 2 miles in and the locomotoives started operating at the top of the incline. The railroad was then extended 8 miles beyond the incline to Moody where there was an engine house and shops. Washington state interests bought the railroad in 1902 and made big plans to extend it to near Piercy to a possible route for the railroad to the Bay Area. They planned to build a big modern mill on the eastern end of the new line at Andersonia.
As the mill was about to open an accident occured where a timber came crashing down and hit the owner who was inspecting new machinery. He died a week later. The death, some continuing problems getting the mill running and finally the 1906 earthquake resulted in the million dollar mill never opening. The railroad shut down in 1906. Stored in a shed until it collapsed, the locomotive sat outside until 1962. It was then donated to the State of California and sat outside at Fort Humboldt until 1972. Rebuilt by the Association in 1979, it operates monthly during the summer at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park Logging Exhibit.
There are only 16 operating steam locomotives in the United States and Canada older than the Gypsy. The fact that the Gypsy operates with its original lap-seam boiler probably puts it in a class all by itself. The original, older style boiler limits the operating pressure to 50 lbs.