The Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad (NCO ) was such a colorful enterprise and how it managed to exist for nearly a half of a century is mind boggling.
In 1884, the NCO’s line extended thirty miles north of Reno, at the old Antelope Ranch, and they named it Oneida. At the same, Edgar Heriot was brought in as general manager and under his leadership made numerous beneficial improvements.
At the end of 1884, the NCO extended its line five miles north to Junction House (near present day Hallelujah Junction. Heriot had ambitious plans. On March 31, 1887 Heriot announced that work would commence on a 45-mile extension from Junction House to Brubeck’s Ranch at Lower Hot Springs on the east side of Honey Lake. This did not set well with Susanville or the communities on the west side of the valley. However, there were delays due to litigation with landowners over rights-of-way in Long Valley. This was a considerable expense and Moran’s owners of the NCO fired Heriot. He was replaced with the cantankerous Erasmus Gest.
No matter how hard Susanville lobbied the Morans, dealing with Gest was an exercise in futility. Gest had made up his mind. He was determined to build the line as quickly as possible to the Oregon border, on the most direct route. Gest feared competition from the north, and it was his desire to have the railroad built to eliminate rival lines. Gest informed the Morans of his decision to stay with the original plans. Gest stated it was a waste of money to build to Susanville, referring to it as a “no place.” Later management called Gest’s judgment to bypass Susanville as “ . . . one of the most monumental blunders, I have ever known a sane man to commit.”