The NCO’s Troubled Reputation

An NCO train stuck on the Madeline Plains, January 1911—Dorothy Capezzoli

The Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad is a fascinating narrow gauge line that went from Reno, Nevada to Lakeview, Oregon. Its original intent was to The Dalles, Oregon on the Columbia River. The NCO would make a good case study on how not to operate a railroad.

Since its inception in 1879, it was plagued with financial troubles. In 1884, a New York banking firm, the Moran Brothers took over the ownership. The following year it was renamed the Nevada & California. In 1888, it became the Nevada-California-Oregon.  These initials NCO became a target of criticism for its poor service. The NCO received such dreadful titles as the Narrow-Crooked & Ornery, the Northern California Outrage, Never Comes Over and the Nevada-California-Ocasional. The newspapers were quick to report any operating problems. In 1893, J.M. Tremain editor of Susanville’s Lassen Weekly Mail called the NCO a tri-weekly.  “It goes to Reno one week and tries to return the next.”

There were times, however, it would have a reason for being slow and at times non-existent. Along Long Valley Creek, the tracks would receive damage from flooding. Snowstorms were another culprit. In January 1916, the snow was so deep, it would take nearly three weeks for trains started running again.

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