Conditions Governing Access note
Conditions Governing Use note
Preferred Citation note
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Biographical/Historical note
Scope and Contents note
Existence and Location of Originals note
Existence and Location of Copies note
Title: Wrecking Car Company No. 1, Sacramento, Log Book
Identifier/Call Number: C058481
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Container: B001620
Container: C058481
Physical Description:
3.0 folders
Folder 1: typewritten log, 176 pages.
Folder 2: reproduction of log.
Folder 3: reproduction of log.
Date (inclusive): 10/15/1876 to 05/24/1895
Abstract: This log book is an overview of the “wrecking” calls that Douglas and his crew answered. Whenever a railway car would topple
off the track or otherwise have an accident, the wrecking car would arrive to remove debris, right the car, or make repairs.
Some details are included regarding cargo that was left in freight trains, casualties (and in some cases, corpses), and probable
cause of wrecks. Occasionally Douglas would include information about the crew’s leisure time (see entry #181) or a particularly
intensive job, such as when the crew responded to the explosion of the steamer “Julia” at a south Vallejo wharf (entry #209).
Page 89 lists the past and present members of the wrecking crew.
creator:
Douglas, Phil, fl. 1880
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
Conditions Governing Use note
There are no restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation note
Wrecking Car Company No. 1, Sacramento, Log Book. The Society of California Pioneers.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Biographical/Historical note
Phil Douglas was the Master Car Repairman for Wrecking Car Company No. 1 out of Sacramento from at least 1876 to 1895. No
other biographical details are known.
Scope and Contents note
This log book is an overview of the “wrecking” calls that Douglas and his crew answered. Whenever a railway car would topple
off the track or otherwise have an accident, the wrecking car would arrive to remove debris, right the car, or make repairs.
Some details are included regarding cargo that was left in freight trains, casualties (and in some cases, corpses), and probable
cause of wrecks. Occasionally Douglas would include information about the crew’s leisure time (see entry #181) or a particularly
intensive job, such as when the crew responded to the explosion of the steamer “Julia” at a south Vallejo wharf (entry #209).
Page 89 lists the past and present members of the wrecking crew.
Container List: Folder 1: typewritten log, 176 pages 10/15/1876-05/24/1895. Folder 2: reproduction of log (#1). Folder 3:
reproduction of log (#2).
Existence and Location of Originals note
These appear to be typewritten copies of the original log book. The location of the original log book is unknown.
Existence and Location of Copies note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California, Northern - History - 19th century.
Railroads--History
Sacramento (Calif.) - History - 19th century.
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