California - Knight Foundry, Sutter Creek, Amador County

Sutter Creek, CA - While not actually a railroad facility, Knight Foundry is very similiar to many of the railroad shops and foundries of years gone by. This site makes for an interesting look at an almost vanished technology.

Knight foundry was established in 1873,to supply Heavy Equipment and repair facilities to the gold mines and timber industry of the Mother Lode. Samuel Knight developed a high speed cast iron water wheel which was a fore runner of the Pelota wheel design,and is one of the National Treasures of the United States. Knight Foundry continues to function as a foundry and machine shop, producing gray iron castings of every description for industrial and individual customers. Still using the 42-inch diameter wheel installed by Samuel Knight in the 1870s, the machine shop is powered by water falling over 400 feet from the ridge above Sutter Creek.

Site URL: http://amadornet.safepages.com/directory/travelers/museums/knightfounty.html
Date resource added: 1-Mar-2001
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