Finding aid of the Wrecking Car Company No. 1, Sacramento, Log Book C058481

Finding aid prepared by Carolee Gilligan Wheler

Society of California Pioneers

300 Fourth Street

San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272

(415) 959-1849

pkeats@californiapioneers.org

08/14/2003

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.