Train - Logging - The morning dump 1890

Colorized photo from 1890 Original title: Albion, redwoods logs on railway train going to dumping grounds Photographer: Unknown Location: Albion River, Little River, CA There is a reason why the Great redwood forest is protected, it was because everyone cut down the 2000 year old trees to make lumber, sold to mostly gold rush people. This is the Albion River Railroad, it was started in 1885. It started out as a logging railroad company to supply raw material to the Albion Mill located near the mouth of the river. They would cut down the trees, and some how haul it onto train cars, and tied with nothing but a bit of rope, they would snake their way to a location where they can then dump it into the water. Where then it was floated to the mill. I'm not sure how they drove a train and not see what was ahead of them, seems like the view was blocked pretty well. Or why they had to both push and pull it. I am a bit curious how they got these logs off though. Seems that if they just pushed it, the trolley underneath would go with it. Unless the whole thing was pushed down a ramp and it all just floated off. I also can't think of any less safe place to be, other than under the train, to pose for a picture. On the logs, next to them, balanced at the edge of the bridge. Its not that high up so I guess its sort of safe. I'd be curious as to why the ladies were facing in the wrong direction. I can only assume they were getting a different view of this shot. The train should be a Baldwin 2-4-2T No. 1 'Albion'. They had a sister engine the #2, which is located in a weird little mall museum in California. Its a back drop to a small cafe.