1. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Bill, glad to hear that news. I sure would like to see (as I am sure you would) 19 restored to operation and out on the rails again.
     
  2. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    CORP tested a couple of Gensets over the Siskiyou summit a few years ago, but that was the last train that used the northern end due to the lack of freight to justify the cost of operation and MOW. There's no freight over the Siskiyous due to the inability of CORP and the shippers to come to an agreement on shipping fees. It's been that way since about 2007.

    An occasional short train does operate between Weed and Montague to deliver hopper cars of fertilizer. The crew that operates that train is on an on-call basis and comes down from Medford to work.

    The GWI has inherited CORP's lease of the Siskiyou line between Medford and Weed, but will not operate unless there is ample business to justify the expense.

    IF EsPee sells the Siskiyou line to our organization, we would be free to establish freight AND passenger service from Yreka to Weed and Ashland. What wonderful dinner and tourist trains that could make. Wow!
     
  3. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    No, I get that, I'm just wondering how, if there's enough traffic to justify you guys doing that, why wouldn't gwi just handle it. Wasn't the main train over the hill a Roseburg fp train that went well past Ashland. Sorry, just trying to understand why GWI wouldn't want the business. I mean RA was a bunch of no good son of a *%&*. GWI seems interested in runnin freight.



    Tourist train I get though.
     
  4. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    There will be no chance of traffic from the mill(s) in Yreka until Court Hammond and his henchmen are completely out of the picture! That's why there has been no freight to Montague interchange since 2007 ... Hammond has burned all of his bridges!
    Yes ... until the dispute over shipping rates with CORP and California shippers, CORP operated the entire length between Roseburg, Or through Ashland and over the Siskiyous to the Weed, Upee interchange.
    At this time, GWI does not have interest in running over the summit because there's no business. However, there are rumors they plan to improve the line by enlarging the tunnels; probably to handle intermodal units. If we get to purchase the line between Ashland and Weed, we are certain all carriers will resume rail service if we can give them a reasonable freight rate. We could interchange the trains to and from GWI and make a little monty from that aspect.
    Tourist trains will be free to use those rails without regulations by the Upee lease, which prohibits passenger service on the Siskiyou line.
     
  5. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ahh, I get it, you aren't buying "the trains" you're buying the tracks which yes, SP leased to CORP and Portland & Western. I get it now.

    GWI has done a lot of improvements that will allow them to run on their own rails from Portland to Eugene. It's only a mile or 2 across Eugene to pop on CORP.
     
  6. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    Bingo!! Sorry I did not make myself any more understood. :rolleyes:
     
  7. BOK

    BOK TrainBoard Member

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    I know this may sound negative but having operated many shortlines I wonder who in your group, Bill has the resources to purchase the track from the UP, equipment, perform the operations, train and test crews locate vendors and conduct marketing to operate this railroad?
    Not only, does it take a lot of everything, to start up and operate a railroad with these geographical conditions, do any of you know how to plow snow and is there a plow available, how about washouts, track inspections/renewals? More important can you make any money doing this to cover your expenses much less afford liability insurance for any potential passenger operations? Finally, just because a customer says they will use rail and agree to your rate what about your connecting railroads which each have to figure in their piece of the revenue and car supply? Many times the railroads I operated attempted to grow their traffic base and found new business but when they offered the plans to the connecting railroad they wanted nothing to do with it because it would cost them more to handle it than was economically feasible.

    Don't get me wrong I am all for keeping railroads alive and functioning and I have a warm spot in my heart for small steam operations, but only if they can economically stand on their own two feet. I do know running a railroad is not for the faint of heart and it takes guts and way more work than anyone can imagine. I learned a long time ago that I would rather work for someone who owns a short line rather than own it myself because I didn't want to be the guy staying up late at night trying to meet the weekly payroll or figuring how to pay the fuel oil vendor. The days of buying some track, getting a locomotive and talking some customers into letting you haul their freight much less running a steam excursion operation is over. Owning/operating a short line can be a complicated, often frustrating job.

    Good luck, but I sure hope someone has, deep, deep, deep, money, pockets and at least two, good, solid, finanacial/operating plans in place to pull this off.

    Barry, happy to be approaching retirement after almost fifty years on the rails.
     
  8. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    Barry ... I just found your post (don't know how I missed it)!

    I don't know jack about running a short-line, or any other kind of railroad. I only know how to run the train, both diesel and steam. Though I do understand the great cost(s) of operating a railroad after witnessing the angst of the past president of the YWRR ... Mr. Troy Hubbard had, due to the fire in tunnel 13, which caused the loss of about 75 precent of freight revenue for over a year and a half.

    The YWRR does not have any experience, or equipment to move snow. Most of the MOW equipment that Mr. Hammond bought for the railroad was junk to begin with. What ever was in any useful shape has been sold, or scrapped. But I'm sure the organization that is interested in the YW has alot of experience in railroading, and in the promotion and operation of shortlines. I doubt any venture would'nt be considered without a comprehensive study.

    I was advised by my fireman that he saw Mr. Hammond yesterday, and Mr. Hammond told him that I am, "not welcome around" there anymore! I wonder why? :teeth:

    Congratulations on your pending retirement! Enjoy!
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have a feeling that even if he actually wanted to keep this, and operate it, he'd be hard pressed to find anyone who'd want to be around.
     
  10. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    This thread never got updated, well CORP got their Tiger grant and new ties are already staged. Siskyous Summit should be reopened for business this summer. Question is, will YW be there for its leg. As I suspected, CORP/GWI is an operator unlike RA, so if there was money to be made, they were willing to do it.
     
  11. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Presumably Roseburg held out on the idea of selling the line, because they literally, along with Timber products were the ones doing all the work to get the grants in place.

    It was Roseburg and Timber products that got the grants and the line reopened by justifying how it would save them money.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 18, 2015
  12. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It would be interesting if someone could catch the renewal work in a few photos for us.
     
  13. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    That's the first I've heard the Tiger Grant had been passed. However, I was told IF the Tiger Grant would be passed it would not be until late fall the first train would crest the Siskiyous. We'll see, and I'll try and catch a little action on the line for photos, Ken.
    Thanks for the info, YoHo. :)
     
  14. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Info was in Railfan & Railroad and presumably picked up by trains by now. All over the CORP yahoo group as well where the new tie staging was noted.
     
  15. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    I do know there's bridge and tunnel work to be done on the north side before they start moving.
    It'll be good to see the rails being used again.
    There was two empty hopper cars being moved southbound from Montague on Tuesday.
     
  16. Burninbob

    Burninbob TrainBoard Member

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    Any new updates about the Yreka Western?
     
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hmm. Yes. It has been six months now...
     
  18. oregon trunk

    oregon trunk TrainBoard Member

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    Saw a track gang near Hornbrook replacing ties.
     
  19. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's CORP. I don't remember their completion date to that work.
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    There seems to be some news this morning? Will #19 finally be sold?
     

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