THE AERIAL TRAMWAY OF THE REID MINE

The historic remains of an aerial tramway or tram line of the Reid mine is the main topic of this YouTube video. They were sometimes referred to as an “aerial ropeway” as well. At one point Shasta County had at least twelve different aerial tramways or tram lines in operation at the same time hauling 100 pounds or more of mining ore daily from lucrative mines producing gold, silver, and copper in one ore carload also known as a bucket load. Parts of the aerial tramway still exists and is marked with a marker along the present-day Freitas Loop Trail commemorating its history.

Nearby, the Reid mine was a lucrative producer of gold from the late 19th century to about the 1920s in the Old Diggings Mining District. This mine was named by its original locator Edward A. Reid. During the above interim years in 1913, the owners of this property, James Martin Sallee, a native of Florida, along with his son Harvey James Sallee, installed the above tramway or tram line. Today, only the cables and some concrete foundations of this aerial tramway remains visible to the public eye. This is what you’re about to view in the following YouTube video. Enjoy,

The Adventure:

Filmed on located November 20, 2022. Historical image of the aerial tramway of the Reid mine is provided by Shasta Historical Society.

Resources:


Mining Notes From Old Diggings - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1885

Reid & Co.'s - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 29, 1885

Last Payment On Mine - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, April 12, 1906


Improvements Made In Sallee's Reid Mine - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 30, 1911


Building Aerial Tram For Reid Mine - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 18, 1912


Installing Tram Line - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 20, 1912

Two Killed In A Shasta County Mine - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 18, 1914

Rich Strike In The Reid Mine - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, November 15, 1915

Prominent Shasta Miner Is Dead - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 29, 1916