While out & about yesterday taking advantage of the rarity of sunny weather, I rolled thru INdependence, OR in search of the remains of the Valley & Siletz Railroad. This line used to run from an SP interchange in Independence to Valsetz, site of a Boise Cascade lumber mill. That mill closed in 1978 and the town was razed, and the line was cut back to a 3-mile segment serving Boise mills in Independence. By 1985 the sole customer was the Mountain Fir mill, and was operated by the Roots brothers (of Albany & Western and Willamette Valley fame). The mill closed in 1992, and the line's reason for being went with it. When I got there yesterday, all I could see left was about 3/4 of a mile of track branching off the now-Portland & Western Westside line. With no customers, the line is a storage track for maintenance-of-way cars and an ex-SP SD9 (4433). There is a shop building at the end-of-track which is owned by George Lavacot, who is reportedly restoring a steam locomotive inside the shop. Lavacot had also leased the 4433 to the PNWR at one time. The 4433, one well-worn EMD. Lettered for the W&P but obviously of SP ancestry Another ex-SP car (love that Harriman styling), a WPRR relief tender.
ANother old piece of RR equipment: This water car, still carrying V&S reporting marks. Check out the archbar trucks! To its left is a tender, the locomotive for which is reportedly in a shop to the left of this photo. It is owned by George Lavacot, the same fellow who owns the 4433 seen in the previous post. Another ex- SP car (baggage? RPO? any idea, SP fans?) at the shop.
I recently ran accross another reference to George. Says he also has ex SP SD9 4364. Any sign of this one around there?
You Photoshopped that blue sky in, didn't ya? It's just like here in western Washington, a rarity!:teeth: Nice rolling stock variety! That old water car, is that an old fire tanker for putting out lineside fires? I think I saw a pic in an older Pacific Rail magazine once.
