Description
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.
Background
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.
Extent
3.0 folders
Folder 1: typewritten log, 176 pages.
Folder 2: reproduction of log.
Folder 3: reproduction of log.
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on access.
Availability
Collection open for research.