Railroad Gate

Railroad Gate. . A locomotive was purchased to be used on a short line railroad which had been constructed from the prison to the village of Folsom, for hauling supplies. In the early part of June, 1893., In 1922, the walls around the prison were finally completed the autumn and guard towers erected at strategic points along its lengthy stretch., At the south west corner of the wall a large metal gate was constructed as the railroad gate near Tower Eight, for use by the Folsom State Prison Railroad., The gate was constructed in the Blacksmith Shop located in the Lower Yard by prisoners., This wall which enclosed some forty-one acres was built by convict labor exclusively. As the prison on one side faces the American River which acts as natural barrier, only three sides were enclosed. The rock used in the building of this wall was quarried in the prison quarry and man powered derricks were used to lift the bigger slabs into place. The wall took 38 years to complete., The railroad gate was removed in 2003. it was placed on the museum lawn area in November 2008.