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. 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.

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In the late 1930s the 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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Mojave Desert,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by Michael Kindig, December 4, 2011

2. Epsom Salts Monorail Marker

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John & Dennis Searles Wagon Routes (here, next to this marker); Famous Trona Pinnacles (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to the Trona Pinnacles (approx. 4.6 miles away); Searles Lake Borax Discovery (approx. 5.3 miles away); Old Guest House Museum (approx. 5½ miles away); Austin Hall (approx. 5½ miles away); Trona Unified School (approx. 6.3 miles away); Valley Wells (approx. 10.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trona.

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 . . . Epsom Salts Monorail. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

John & Dennis Searles Wagon Routes (Left) and Epsom Salts Monorail Marker (Right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, December 4, 2011

3. John & Dennis Searles Wagon Routes (Left) and Epsom Salts Monorail Marker (Right)

Markers located near highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 26, 2020

4. Markers located near highway

Epsom Salts Monorail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wikipedia, Unknown

5. Epsom Salts Monorail

Dedication Patch image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 4, 2008

6. Dedication Patch

Epsom Salts Monorail
ECV
Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069
Spring 2008

Pinnacles Interpretive Sign image. Click for full size.

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 1,696 times since then and 60 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.