Trona in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Epsom Salts Monorail
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 26, 2020
1. Epsom Salts Monorail Marker
Inscription.
Epsom Salts Monorail. . In 1917 a deposit of Epsom salts was discovered near the old Wingate Wash Borax Road at the southern end of Death Valley. In 1919 the claims were acquired by Los Angeles florist Thomas Wright. Although close to an existing road, Wright devised other plans to exploit the find. A scheme to dissolve the salts and transport them via a 28-mile pipeline to the Trona Railroad had to be abandoned due to lack of water. In 1922 Wright began construction of a monorail at Magnesia Siding on the Trona Railroad, six miles south of the town of Trona. It ran eastward across the south end of Searles Lake, through the Slate Range via Layton Canyon, across the tip of Panamint Valley, over Wingate Pass and thence to the mine. It consisted of a single steel rail on top of a heavy wooden beam supported by A-frame trestles about three feet high. Locomotives and cars ran on two wheels and the load was balanced on each side, much like pack saddles on a mule's back. Construction took 2 years and cost about $200,000. Simple in concept, the line never worked properly, and after several attempts to increase efficiency the operation ceased in 1927. In the late 1930s the rail and beam were salvaged, leaving only A-frames, most of which have since disappeared. . This historical marker was erected in 2008 by Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management.. It is in Trona in San Bernardino County California
In 1917 a deposit of Epsom salts was discovered near the old Wingate Wash Borax Road at the southern end of Death Valley. In 1919 the claims were acquired by Los Angeles florist Thomas Wright. Although close to an existing road, Wright devised other plans to exploit the find. A scheme to dissolve the salts and transport them via a 28-mile pipeline to the Trona Railroad had to be abandoned due to lack of water. In 1922 Wright began construction of a monorail at Magnesia Siding on the Trona Railroad, six miles south of the town of Trona. It ran eastward across the south end of Searles Lake, through the Slate Range via Layton Canyon, across the tip of Panamint Valley, over Wingate Pass and thence to the mine. It consisted of a single steel rail on top of a heavy wooden beam supported by A-frame trestles about three feet high. Locomotives and cars ran on two wheels and the load was balanced on each side, much like pack saddles on a mule's back. Construction took 2 years and cost about $200,000. Simple in concept, the line never worked properly, and after several attempts to increase efficiency the operation ceased in 1927. In the late 1930s the
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rail and beam were salvaged, leaving only A-frames, most of which have since disappeared.
Erected 2008 by Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management. (Marker Number 134.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location. 35° 40.884′ N, 117° 23.475′ W. Marker is in Trona, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is at the intersection of Trona Road (California Route 178) and Pinnacle Road, on the right when traveling east on Trona Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 78625-78639 Pinnacle Road, Trona CA 93562, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This plaque is about 16 miles east of Ridgecrest and 7 miles south of Trona at the junction of SR-178 and Pinnacle Road.
Also see . . .
Photographed By Michael Kindig, December 4, 2011
2. Epsom Salts Monorail Marker
Epsom Salts Monorail. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Michael Kindig, December 4, 2011
3. John & Dennis Searles Wagon Routes (Left) and Epsom Salts Monorail Marker (Right)
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 26, 2020
4. Markers located near highway
Photographed By Wikipedia, Unknown
5. Epsom Salts Monorail
Photographed By Michael Kindig, May 4, 2008
6. Dedication Patch
Epsom Salts Monorail
ECV
Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069
Spring 2008
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 26, 2020
7. Pinnacles Interpretive Sign
Trona Pinnacles are located six miles south of here.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 879 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on November 3, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos:1. submitted on November 5, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 6, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on November 5, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on October 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6. submitted on May 8, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 7. submitted on November 5, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.