Investigation -
Yosemite Valley R.R.

Railroad Commission of California,
B u i l d i n g.

Gentlemen:

Attention - Commissioner Eshleman.

XXXXXXAttached I hand you Assistant Engineer H. G. Butler's report on his investigation into the conditions of track and road bed of the Yosemite Valley Railroad. This investigation grew out of the exchange of telegrams between the Commission and the company which you will find in the file. The substance of Mr. Butler's report is as follows:

1. ROADBED -
XXXXXXIt appears that the ties, as was at first supposed, are not the only factor making for dangerous conditions on this road, but that the roadbed itself in certain places is in a very unstable and dangerous condition. Certain fills are so narrow that the ends of ties in places extend beyond the shoulder of the ballast and a slight impact on the shoulder would cause a downward slope into the river and leave the track unsupported. These banks should be widened and where necessary protected by riprap.

2. TIES -
XXXXXXThe condition of the ties on this road is serious and I refer you to the details of Mr. Butler's report on pp. 5 to 8. Not only are the pine ties in the track of this read in the worst condition possible but the number of ties per mile used is less than safety and fair standards of construction require. Since the stresses put upon these ties by the comparatively high speed maintained over a track with such curves as are found on this read, are about as severe as any track strains in this state, the ties should be maintained, if anything, in better condition than the average, on this line, and a greater number rather than less than the average per mile should be used.

3. RAILS. FROGS AND SWITCHES,
CROSSINGS AND FASTENINGS -
XXXXXX The steel on this road is in good condition.

4. BALLAST -
XXXXXX I believe that it would be a paying investment for this company to replace some of the less desirable ballast by better ballasting material, crushed rock for instance. It would also be desirable to increase the quantity in the company's ballast section. This item, however, is not in such shape that it is necessary for me to make any recommendation to the Commission.

XXXXXX1. To at once proceed to widen their banks where the bank is now not wide enough to give a full bearing for the ties and that the Commission be advised when this work is completed and that the company be required by the first of January 1915 to have completed the widening of all its "banks, where the toe comes in the river to a width of at least 12" beyond the ends of the ties, or to a distance of 5 ft. from the center line. The slopes should be built, and,if necessary,protected by riprap, in such a way that the filling material will remain stable.

XXXXXX 2. To proceed at once to replace with sound ties 40% of the original pine ties on the line between mile posts 24 and 57 and mile posts 47 and 65, and to advise the Commission on September 1, 1914, of the number of men that have been employed in this work and the number of ties replaced.

XXXXXX 3. To have replaced by January 1, 1915, at least 60 of the original pine ties between these mile posts.

XXXXXXI further recommend that the present order of the Commission regarding the speed of operation, and which now affects some track which is in good condition, be superseded by the following order:

XXXXXXIn accordance with the understanding had with the company, as per the Commission's letter of July 14, 1914, I am sending a complete copy of Mr. Butler's report to the company.

Yours respectfully,
signed Richard Sachse
Acting Chief Engineer.

R.S.-grd

Enclosures