Revisiting the Tecopa Railroad

With the train's gondolas full, we begin the downward trek passing the safety spur and 'bumpers' to our left. The roadbed was covered over by tailings from later operations of the Columbia Mine about 1/3 mile below the Noonday's loading area.
 

At Columbia the main shaft was through hard rock and was unbraced. Above this entrance stood a headframe similar to the one at the Noonday Mine.
 

The location for the drum winch was again above the shaft and back along the hillside.
 

South of the shaft and winch is a large equipment area containing the engine for power generation.
 

Water and fuel tanks and other buildings were located cleared area. Perhaps much of the Noonday's equipment was moved to this location.
 

Passing the tailings of the Columbia Mine, the roadbed swings west and then enters a long south-westerly curve to join onto what is now Furnace Creek Road.
 

There are a few fills and several cuts along this section. Surprisingly, there are only two washouts, this one is at about Milepost 8.7. The roadbed does show signs where others will occur.
 

About Milepost 8.2, the Tecopa Railroad's roadbed merges into the current Furnace Creek Road and snakes its way downgrade through long "S" bends.
 

After 1.1 miles along the combined roadbed - Furnace Creek Road, at about Milepost 7.1, the paved road soon straightens out for the long run down to Old Spanish Trail Highway with the roadbed departing to the right.
 

The Tecopa's roadbed now swings in to run along the higher slopes to maintain grade and then turns back across a long curved fill with a deep washout in the center.