McCloud River Railroad   -    McCloud Railway  -  Signal Butte

The Historic and Present Day
By an appreciative rail fan and admirer of the hundred mile short line, that defied, weather, mountains, time and economics, for the longest time.

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Moore and McCloud Rails

Signal Butte is the only remaining switchback on the McCloud River Railroad, McCloud Railway. The switchbacks were needed because the grade going up this hip of Mount Shasta is severe. The "official" grade for the railroad has always been 4.5 percent , but many of the railroaders have scoffed at this, proposing up to 7 percent as being more likely.

as pictures become available I will add them,

The Turntable used to turn the snow plows and the other equipment, not the steam engines

Signal Butte Topo

Signal Butte

Signal Butte Close Up

Turn Table At Signal Butte For Turning Snow Plows , speeders and hi-rail equipment***

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Maps and Aerial Image: U.S. Geological Survey

***Photo Courtesy of Jeff Moore and McCloud Rails

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