CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Granite Gate


The reach back into the depths of Millard Canyon is more of the same winding rails overlooking a deep gorge of wilderness. On the trip we lose sight of the valley and are being taken in by a forest of sporadically grown trees, variegated chaparral, and random snags.

At the half way point along the Alpine Division is a junction into Grand Canyon referred to as Sunset Point. Its view provided riders with a fantastic panorama of a Southern California sunset.

Just past Sunset Point the right-of-way was met with a monstrous obstacle, a granite crag which required eight months of dynamiting in order to create just enough clearance for a narrow gauge car. see map

 

As the train worked its way back into of Millard Canyon it traveled through a stand of Pacific Live Oak trees called Live Oak Grove. Note the marker sign in the photo to the right. see map

 

 

 

 

 

In the photo above we can see the work crews standing atop the granite crag. This broader view than that of the photo at the top of the page gives us a better idea of the amount of work needed to clear the granite away.

In the photo to the left, see car No. 32 coming down the hill through Granite Gate. The tour sign off to the side reads: GRANITE GATE Ele. 4072 FT.

Upward from this point the railway will reach deep into the depths of Grand Canyon and onward to Crystal Springs and the Alpine Tavern.

 
And of course our Metz roadster made its way up
through the Granite Gate as well.
One of the few photos taken in Grand Canyon is this one of the later class Alpine Division cars riding up the right away in a snow-covered scene. Even here in the front range of the Sierra Madres, snow is almost an annual occurence given the altitude.

The near two-mile stretch from Granite Gate becomes a little more secluded, and quite scenic, but contains fewer photographic points of interest like the front side of the mountain. For being only a couple miles away from civilization, and this includes the present day, Grand Canyon provides an aire of tranquility and restfulness. This was arguably the most unique attraction of the Mount Lowe Railway.