The following is an excerpt from a 1907 Brochure/Public Time Table. It discribes the rail journey from Merced to El Portal. The gateway to the Yosemite Valley over the Yosemite Valley Railroad.

OSEMITE IS OPEN Spring and Summer, Autumn and Winter, and he would be a rash man who should venture to say at what season this wonderful Valley looks most beautiful.

The trains of the Yosemite Valley Railroad run every day from Merced to El Portal the Gateway of Yosemite.

MERCED, the western terminus and headquarters of the Yosemite Valley Railroad, is a pretty little city in the San Joaquin Valley, about 145 miles south of San Francisco. It is on the maim lines of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe, and thus has excellent train service from all points in California and the East. The schedules are given on last page.

The Yosemite train, on leaving Merced, crosses one of the riches and most fertile section of the San Joaquin Valley. On every side are orchards, vineyards, prosperous farms, rich pastures and herds of sheep and cattle, while in the distance glisten the silver peaks of the towering High Sierras.

At Merced Falls the line reaches the entrance to the Merced Canyon. Soon a change comes over the beautiful Merced River. In place of a broad, placid stream, rippling over pebbly reaches past ideal picnic and camping grounds like Shepard's Point, or deep, sunny pools where the trout lurks in seclusion, the river is pent in between the narrow walls of the canyon and rushes in foaming cataracts over the rocks and boulders strewn in its pathway. For sixty miles the railway line follows the course of the river, through the gorge, crossing and recrossing, with fine engineering skill, and only once or twice for a few moments is the river out of sight and hearing.

At Exchequer the river is thirty feet deep, and, pouring over the dam with an 18-foot fall, furnishes 500 horsepower for the electric power plant nearby.

Constantly we are reminded of past historic days, when the pioneers were panning and sluicing the rivers of California. Piles of stones, worn smooth by the water, acres of small rocks bear witness to the feverish activity which characterized the search for gold. At one bend in the river, close to the shore, stands a small, square, stone building, windowless, roofless, but with stout iron doors and shutters, which was once a bank for the miners' precious dust. It is an interesting monument of an epic period -

"The days of old
  The days of gold,
  The days of '49."

The Bagby Dam is the most picturesque along the course. Pouring over with a constant roar, like a great sheet of moving glass, until it breaks in snowy foam below, it form a picture for which every visitor should get his camera ready. Bagby was formerly known as Benton Mills, which were named after Jessie Benton, wife of General Fremont, and daughter of Senator Benton, of Missouri.

At Mountain King is a 20-stamp mill, which is operating by water brought along a flume from the intake at a point three miles up the river.

At South Fork the main river and the south fork come together in picturesque confusion, and apart from the beauty of the scene, it may well and truly be called the Fisherman's Paradise. It is of interest to note that the famous Hite's Gold Mine is only four miles up the South Fork. Keep your camera ready, and soon you will get a view of the emerald wonder, Mossy Canyon, which will enrich your store of negatives.

Winding and curving, twisting and turning, ever climbing, we now reach the Hog's Back, a curve which almost completes the circle; then there is a sudden sweep to the right, and far up, 2000 feet above us on the face of the great cliff is a narrow, white band which shimmers in the light as you gaze. You are looking at the Chinquapin Falls, and the first part of your journey is over. For you have reached El Portal, the Gateway of Yosemite.

EL PORTAL. Here let us pass the night, for surely a more delightful spot could not be found. On a rocky plateau, above the murmuring river, surrounded by trees, which the cliffs of the canyon standing like giant sentinels on guard, the homelike hotel, El Portal, throws wide open its hospitable doors. This fine hotel cost about $100,000. The 25-foot verandas on three sides, the large rubble fireplaces, the spacious entrance hall with its heavy beamed ceiling, and attractive dining room, all make for comfort and enjoyment. The 135 rooms are well and conveniently furnished, and the beds are the best that money can buy. There is a Palm Garden in the rear of the hotel, and a Band Stand over the main veranda. Mr. Wm. Sell, the manager, who is known to many travelers, personally superintends the service in the dining room, with the result that everything is the best of its kind. His early trout breakfast is worth getting up early to enjoy.

The entrance to the Yosemite National Park is only a short distance from the El Portal Hotel, and the twelve and one-half miles of roadway from El Portal to the Yosemite Village is under Federal supervision.

The coaches of the Yosemite Transportation Co. - D. K. Stoddard, manager - are roomy and comfortable. This is a most enjoyable drive.

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(The story continues on for several pages
highlighting the attractions of the National Park).

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Through tickets sold by all Southern Pacific and Santa Fe agents.

Baggage checked through to Yosemite. Free allowance on railroads, 150 pounds; on stages, 50 pounds; excess baggage, $1.00 per cwt (hundred weight.)

On Application, Southern Pacific and Santa Fe conductors will issue stop-over checks at Merced on all classes of overland tickets.

A regular vestibuled passenger train leave Merced daily, with observation car on the rear. A small additional charge is made for seats in the observation car.

An eight-passenger motor car is in service between Merced and El Portal, which can be chartered for a special trip at any time. This makes an ideal automobile trip up the Merced River Canyon.

The Yosemite Valley Railroad train going into the Valley, will stop at the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific stations, to pick up passengers, and will also land passengers at both these stations when returning from the Valley.

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(Page continues with tables of distances and altitudes in the Valley and
railroad schedules for the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and Yosemite Valley.)