Oakdale Junction Research

Most of the research I have done on Oakdale Junction has come from a variety of sources. A lot of it has come from my dad who is an avid fan of the Sierra Railroad and Pickering Lumber Company. Growing up, my father was working on an HO Scale shelf layout set up along one wall of the garage. His layout was loosely based upon the Pickerinig's interchange with the Sierra.

I have family members who lived in the Sonora, Jamestown and Twain Harte area which is where the Sierra Railroad Operated. I have made numerous visits to the area over the years. I have been to Jamestown several times and have ridden many excursion trains sponsored by the Sierra Railroad. Two years ago, I met John Zachs, who has an impressive HO Scale layout depicting the Sierra Railroad and the interchanges with the Pickering Lumber Company and the Westside Lumber Company. Though it has been over a year since I have operated his layout, it was a pleasure to be a small part of that railroad operating crew.

Currently, I do not live too far from Oakdale. I have jumped in the car and made trips out there to look at the existing infrastructure that served all three railroads back in the period I am modeling. Various satelite maps (Bing and Google) have helped me in my research as well. I have come across historic topographic maps from the early 50's which depict the track layout and supporting structures in Oakdale.

The document that has helped me the most is an article "The Montpellier Branch" that was written by Gary B. Jones and published in SP Trainline (Summer 2010 No. 104) which is issued by the Southern Pacific Historical & Technological Society. So far, this article has provided me with the most comprehensive information about the Montpellier Branch and about SP operations in Oakdale. The article includes several historical pictures and SPINS diagrams of cities located between Stockton and Merced.