Matches Flumes And Rails: The Diamond Match Co By Kent Stephens HC DJ #H-6

“Matches, Flumes, and Rails: The Diamond Match Co. in the High Sierra" by Kent Stephens is a richly illustrated 1977 history (first edition, hardback, 176 pages) from Trans‑Anglo Books. This definitive study chronicles the Diamond Match Company’s logging operations in the High Sierra—from their extensive flume systems to the narrow‑ and standard‑gauge railways used to haul timber, concluding under Southern Pacific ownership in the 1970s

Key highlights:

Logging & Transport Infrastructure: The book delves into the design and operation of timber flumes and the 42-mile standard gauge railroad extending from Stirling City to Chico—initially built by Diamond Match and later controlled by Southern Pacific

Historical Details: Covers developments from the late 1800s through 1974, including equipment like Shay locomotives and treated railroad ties
splives.org

Visual & Technical Depth: Packed with black‑and‑white photography, maps, and technical diagrams—ideal for historians, railfans, and l