The early Employee Timetables were 11" x 8.5" and opened to 22" x 8.5." All Y.V.R.R. timetables consisted of four pages. These were printed on heavy "news print" stock. The front cover gave the tittle, date and time the timetable took effect. Also, the front cover displayed the names of responsible people, such as the General Manager, Superintendent, and Trainmaster. Later the Superintendent of Motive Power was included on the cover page. The first inside page contained "Special Rules" for the train crews. The third page had the timetable from El Portal to Merced. The timetable, of coarse, contained the timetable, mileage from El Portal to Merced and all stations in between those two points. The distance between each station and ruling grades. Also indicated was the location of fuel, water, turn tables, wyes, and telephones. The forth page or back sheet was blank.

      After William L. White became the general manager in 1920, the Employee Timetables were 12" x 9.5" and opened to 24" x 9.5." These newer timetables were also printed on "news print" stock, but not as heavy as the early timetables. The color of the paper changed each time a new timetable was issued. These timetables also contained the identifying material and "Special Rules" for the train crews. Unlike the employee timetables of the Lehmer era the timetable itself was oriented from Merced to El Portal.

      In 1922 the forth page begin to show the names and locations of the medical people that were authorized to assist employees. At the same time the approved watch inspectors names and locations were included. Also, in 1922 the timetable contained information about the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe depots. 1925 the forth page not only showed the medics and inspectors but included the locomotives tonnage ratings and lengths of locomotives and cars. This format continued to the very end of the railroad and railway.

      The only exception to the above that is known to me is timetable number 76, dated November 1, 1930. Timetable number 76 was only one page, looked like page three of others.

      In late 1925 or early 1926 the original Y.V.R.R. herald was replaced with the Vernal Falls herald. The December 1935 timetable title indicated "Railway," but the herald still indicated "Railroad." It is assumed that was in anticipation of the foreclosure that became a reality on January 1, 1936. Subsequently, the herald reflected the name change.

      Timetable number 107, dated September 1940 was the last to make reference to the Santa Fe station in Merced. The Southern Pacific station continued on the Y.V.Ry timetable until the Y.V.Ry. began to operate only mixed trains in June 1943.

      Normally employee timetables are number consecutively and the numbers are never duplicated, but the Y.V.Ry made an exception to the general rule. Number 113 was originally issued on May 30, 1942 - but was reissued on June 8, 1942. This was, no doubt, caused by the war conditions that the United States found itself in early 1942. The transmittal letter said it was because the Y.V.Ry and S.P.R.R. could not obtain needed Pullman coaches.

     Included here are four different employee's timetables; each one shows a different general manager. The first shows O.W.Lehmer, the second shows R.D.Toner who was the third manager, W.L. White the second and forth and finally L.A. Foster the fifth and final general manager.

      The 1914 timetable shows Charles Herbert Wright as Trainmaster, this is meaningful to me because I knew Charles very well. He left the Y.V. in 1914 or 1915 and entered the insurance business in Merced. He was the Chapter "Dad" of the Merced Chapter of the Order of DeMolay for many many years and I might add one of the finest men I have ever known.

© Clayton J. Guest, November 1, 1998