As you guys know, work and a young baby have had me pretty much going crazy for the last couple of months. Well, last Sunday, my wife ordered me out of the house and into the car to take some 24 hours of R&R. And so, camera in hand I did just that. The Sacramento area has been between 105-110 for the past 10 days, so I made good and sure to go somewhere cooler. In this case, I made my way to Fort Bragg where the day time high last Monday was 65. I drove Crazy PCH roads, saw/smelled/touched Redwoods, watched waves crash on rocky shores and saw the wildlife, hiked...and photographed trains. I've got lots to share, and over the next few weeks I REFUSE to go in order! So let's start in Willits. For those unfamiliar, Willitis is roughly the half way point on the North Western Pacific. It's also where the California Western interchanges with that line. Early Sunday evening it was still over 100 as I pulled into town. The Skunk Train depot was quiet. It's Sunday runs long done. But that didn't stop me. Facing North, we see the NWP tracks for Eureka, It has been 19 years since a Train rolled north of here. NCRA Still owns these tracks, but nobody kids themselves about this one. First they need to finish getting back TO Willits. Last I saw those Gallery cars was 11 years ago and they were in Santa Rosa. I'd imagine being shoved up here was the last use that line saw. I don't know what the paint scheme on these is as I didn't live in Ca when they ran, but I always found it interesting that these were rotting away up here while Chicago was still using theirs of the same vintage. Finding a Caddy tucked away on a rusty set of rails on the NWP is HARDLY unique. What I couldn't tell is if this was one of the units lettered for NWP. After I'd shot my fill, I headed north trying to make it to a place to pass out for the night. But as the evening lengthened, I couldn't resist a side trip up to see more of the NWP. We're 30+ miles north now. This is where the NWP crosses the Outlet Creek's confluence with the famed Eel River. NWP's bane and the nail in her coffin. Families are enjoying swimming and an evening fire despite temps still in the 90s. I only have eyes for the Infrastructure. This bridge will likely never see revenue service again...and it's too far from a reasonable starting point for what would be a beautiful tourist operation. Only Speeders may get the opportunity over much objection.
That's the kind of R&R road trip I like! Beautiful scenery, big blue sky, and railroad history. Love it. My bit of RR history, a Canadian Pacific work car that explicitly doesn't want to be humped (that's about as loaded as the work car ): S4059A_CPR_Work_Service_421621_Ste-Therese_OC82 by Mike VE2TRV posted Jun 22, 2017 at 9:09 PM Interesting bric-a-brac on the deck, and I like the look of the little shed that looks straight out of someone's back yard. My Dad's photo, October 1982.
Coming into Rosenberg over the Sunset Route on November 17, 2006. Riding on a UP Safety Awareness Special with all the local law enforcement. Kind of a police officer schmooze cruise known as the "Doughnut Limited" because of the on board snacks that the railroad provided. Talk about stereotype.
Built in 1960 by GMD, a former CP SW1200RS now owned by the Black River & Western stands in the rain at Three Bridges, NJ at the NS interchange on 03/31/2017.
At one time there was an active web site which updated the NWP restoration activities. I cannot find such a thing when looking. Know of a site which is alive and being kept current?
Well the NCRA site is always the first place to check http://www.northcoastrailroad.org/ They said they were going to complete work to Willits by 2013, but that did not happen. Trains do run on the southern portion of the line though.
Yup. I have seen that site. Looks a bit out of date. The one I was thinking about had railfan news and photos of the work as it progressed.
It's not too far out of date in so far as it has the outcome of the court action from late last year. As far as I know, no work is being done which is why there are no reports on work being done.
Here, this is from 2013 http://www.willitsnews.com/article/zz/20130628/NEWS/130626410 Willits was uninterested in Partnering and the Economy in general has kept repairs of the line north of Healdsburg halted. Now, SMART does want to get to Cloverdale, so that may still happen. But they're just starting service now. They need to get their feet under them.
This is the type of information I was seeking. I do know and understand they have endured almost relentless court actions. Many bordering on ridiculous, and the awful costs of those in dollars which might have been used for repairs.
Well, the most recent suit was not completely without merit. The question of whether NWPco's contract with smart allowed them to store those cars was not clear. But I would not blame anything but the economy. Both generally, but the long term trends in logging. The number of mills in the Redwood coast has dropped significantly since the days of 100 car SP trains. Some of that was due to activist protection of the forest, but I'd argue was inevitable anyway. There just isn't the industry there once was. Eureka is more interested in punching through the mountains to Redding which would be shorter and given modern techniques, easier to maintain.
Must have been chewing a certain brand of gum at the time. Quite a handsome engine, looks good standing in the rain.
