Introduction
1. Starting Point: Ludlow
2. Ludlow & Southern RR
3. Ludlow to Soda Springs
4. Zabriskie to Shoshone, & Tecopa RR
5. Shoshone to Death Valley Junction
6. Beatty to Bonnie Claire (BG grade)
7. Bonnie Claire to Goldfield (LV&T)
8. Supplement: LV&T Route
                   Beatty to Bonnie Claire
9. The T&T Expedition Video
 

Historical Overview
The Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad was built by "Borax" Smith of Pacific Coast Borax in 1905-7, mainly to ship borax from the Death Valley mines to the Santa Fe Railroad at Ludlow, but also to tap traffic from the gold fields around Rhyolite. It built its own tracks over the 167 miles from Ludlow to Gold Center (2 miles south of Beatty), and provided service from there to Rhyolite and Goldfield via operating agreements with the Bullfrog Goldfield (BG) line.

Most traffic on the T&T came from various mines in the area. The Lila C borax mine was served by a standard gauge branch from Death Valley Junction. In 1914, when the New Ryan mines replaced the Lila C, they were served by an narrow gauge line (the Death Valley Railroad) from the Junction. The line to the Lila C was first removed, then later temporarily restored as a Narrow Gauge spur when additional deposits were discovered unexpectedly. At various times, other traffic was generated by spurs serving the Carrara marble quarries, the Acme gypsum mine near China Ranch, clay pits near Bradford Siding, and other mines. Connecting railroads included the Ludlow & Southern (operated by the T&T and serving the Baghdad Chase mining area south of Ludlow), the Tecopa Railroad (serving the Gunsight and Noonday silver-lead mines east of Tecopa), and the Pacific Coast Borax Company's narrow gauge line to the Gerstley mine northeast of Shoshone. T&T operations ceased in 1940 and the rails were taken up by the War Department in 1942 for use in the war effort.

For detailed historical information about the T&T and its related railroads, see the T&T Website (hosted by John McCulloch).

Scouting Expeditions
In January 2001 my daughter Jocelyn and I investigated some of the lesser-travelled southern segments of the Tonopah & Tidewater and its related railroads. We covered the Ludlow & Southern, which operated from Ludlow south to Stedman, the Tecopa Railroad (which served the Noonday and Gunsight mines near Tecopa) and various segements of the T&T itself between Ludlow and Shoshone. In March 2001 I covered some of the lesser-visited segments north of Shoshone, including Eagle Mtn to Death Valley Junction and Beatty to Goldfield.

The Tonopah & Tidewater Expedition
In November 2002, I organized the first expedition to travel the entire 250 mile length of the T&T from Ludlow to Goldfield. The trip took 5 days, almost entirely on dirt roads, and included the Ludlow & Southern, Tecopa Railroad, and Lila C branch. The expedition, which rediscovered and documented many fascinating T&T remains, was captured on film and turned into a professional video production with historical photographs and commentary. For more details of the Expedition and the resulting video, see The Tonopah & Tidewater Expedition Video.

Part 1: Starting Point: Ludlow

As the southern terminus and headquarters of the T&T, Ludlow made a logical starting point for our expedition. In the town itself, we found a a number of interesting ruins still available to photograph, including Murphy's store of course, but also some old wooden buildings. We also noted the old balloon track berm and what looks like the beginnings of the L&S grade south for the first few yards to the Santa Fe tracks. Alongside this raised berm are some old water tanks, presumably formerly belonging to the L&S.
 

Above Left and Right: Murphy Bros Store
Above: Oil Tanks?	Above: What Building is This?

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