Journeys: Harmony Acres to Waterman Switch

After three emails from two colleagues praising the exploration value of the upper Dougherty Extension Railroad, I could not help but check it out. As a bit of background, the Dougherty Extension existed between 1887, when Dougherty's original mill in Zayante burned down, and 1915, when the lumbering north of Boulder Creek ended. Parts of the line remained in use until 1917 to sell land at the Riverside Grove and Wildwood subdivisions, though the tracks north of those subdivisions may have been pulled earlier. By the late 1910s and early 1920s, nature was retaking the stretch of tracks north of Boulder Creek and the tracks had been removed. The line was narrow gauged throughout its existence and when the tracks were removed, the 30-year-old ties were abandoned, maintaining a 96-year vigil to the present along parts of the right-of-way.

To get to the site, Duncan Nanney described it to me with Brian Liddicoat supporting the directions. After entering Castle Rock State Park along northbound CA Route 9, look for a sign advertising 1/4 mile to a pullout, which is immediately followed by a fire road on the right that doubles as the original Saratoga Toll Road with two mailboxes at the end of it. The pullout sign is sitting on the right-of-way and the road is roughly the site of Waterman Switch. The northbound right-of-way is obvious and easily navigable as it parallels the Saratoga Toll Road (a state park fire road and hiking trail) for some time before breaking off again (and eventually dead-ending). Southbound, though, is another story. The San Lorenzo River dives through an 8' high culvert under the highway and there is something of a trail heading down to it on the south side of the road. Once beside the burgeoning river, head up the opposite hillside. Do not cross the river, just cross the small stream bed and onto the flat clearing opposite. From there, you should be able to easily spot the slightly recessed right-of-way. Begin your journey southbound along the Boulder Creek & Pescadero Railroad!

Chart of artifacts and locations between "Harmony Acres" private drive and Waterman Switch

The right-of-way looking northbound from CA Route 9 near Saratoga Toll Road.

The right-of-way looking northbound toward CA Route 9. A gully and embankment temporarily interrupt the ROW.

The ROW looking southbound from the gully. It remains miraculously exposed.

The ROW looking south through a cut.

The ROW looking north toward the gully.

The ROW looking north past a small washout. The ROW has become somewhat overgrown here.

The ROW looking south in a clearing. Again, it is somewhat overgrown here.

The ROW looking north from the clearing. A young redwood tree has made a home here.

The ROW looking south at a slide. The cut on the right spilled over the tracks many years ago judging by the aged moss that has collected on the rubble.

The ROW looking south through another cut. Here, fallen trees block the original path of the train.

The ROW looking north from the same spot. The slide can just be seen and the ROW is somewhat overgrown.

The ROW looking south at another small clearing.

The ROW looking north. A crushed tree shows evidence of recent human hikers. 

The ROW looking south at yet another small clearing. Access to light here has given rise to numerous young redwood trees over recent years.

The ROW looking north from roughly the same place.

The ROW looking south. The small redwoods have had their fair share of problems, though, as evidenced by the numerous fallen trunks that litter the trail.

Eureka! The fabled exposed (and bent) rail sits comfortably beside the ROW above the San Lorenzo River.

The ROW looking south from the site of the rail.

The ROW looking north from the site of the rail.

Railroad ties are also visible and in miraculously good shape at the site of the rail. Ties like this are visible for much of the remainder of the southward hike though none were spotted before this point.

The rail from a different angle. Duncan Nanney mused that this rail seems stronger and larger than what he expected for a narrow gauged rail. I can't help but agree, but from all existing information, the Dougherty Extension Railroad was never broad gauged. The reason for this single rail's continued existence is likewise a mystery.

The rail as later viewed from CA Route 9 across the San Lorenzo River. It is visible from a pullout at mile marker 18.97, about a quarter mile south of Saratoga Toll Road.

More railroad ties along the ROW. These ones don't have any moss on them like most of the others do.

The dark ROW looking north through a cut in the hillside.

The ROW looking south and seeming fairly clear of debris. The San Lorenzo River can be seen at left.

The ROW looking south through a small cut.

An exposed tie hanging off the edge of the ROW.

The ROW looking south toward a washout.

The ROW looking south after the washout. Human-made trails loop around the washout.

The washout along the ROW looking north. The degree of destruction is more evident from this angle.

A large clearing along the ROW after the washout, looking south. This area is wide enough to have supported a short holding spur, though the length of the section is fairly marginal. It is possible that a small support structure was here such as a water tower or loading platform, though no evidence of either was apparent.

The ROW looking south from the clearing.

The narrow end of the clearing looking south along the ROW.

A timbered tree trunk with a scaffold hole visible beside the ROW just south of the clearing.

The ROW looking south along yet another washout just south of the clearing.

Exposed ties, at left, beside a minor washout. At least five ties were still on the bed while
the fallen trees broke two ties which lay beside the ROW in pieces.

The same washout looking north, showing four of the ties at right.

The ROW looking south from the washout.

The ROW continuing south through a minor cut.

A whole tie uplifted from the rail bed and tossed aside. The forest is slowly reclaiming it.

A stretch of exposed ties along the ROW looking south. At least a dozen ties were visible
at even lengths here, showing how little the forest has reclaimed most of the old bed.

The ROW continuing south.

The ROW continuing south through a minor cut with a clearing at left.

The ROW, looking southbound, breaks off at this point as a gulch passes through it. The gulch seems to be old and well-established suggesting that a short trestle was probably built here when the line was in operation. Slides and washouts at this location have erased any obvious evidence of such a trestle, though one must have existed.

The gulch as viewed looking north continues almost as if it doesn't careen off of a 20 foot ledge, again supporting the argument that a short trestle was probably here and has since washed away. The ROW on the opposite side of the gulch can clearly be seen continuing northbound. The gulch also appears to establish the boundary between properties.

The ROW continuing south from the Harmony Acres dirt driveway. We did not continue our journey past this point on this day, though we plan to in the future. The ROW appears to be covered in grass at this place and can be seen passing by a two-story home just a little further down. About a quarter of a mile south, it should pass over McGaffigan Mill Road, where evidence of a mill site may be observed. Stay tuned for the next journey to the Dougherty Extension RR.