Washington county to begin rehabbing portion of short line's route On Sept. 18, Clark County, Wash., plans to begin to upgrading a 14-mile stretch of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad between Rye Junction and Battle Ground. Scheduled to conclude Dec. 15, the rail rehabilitation project calls for installing new ties and ballast, surfacing track and reconstructing two grade crossings. The project will improve track conditions to accommodate an expected increase in traffic volume during the next 15 years, according to officials of Clark County, which owns the 33-mile short line. In July, the county awarded a contract to West Rail Construction to complete the line upgrades. The Washington State Department of Transportation has provided a $1.1 million rail emergent grant to fund the project. Later this month, the county will seek contractor bids for culvert repair work along the line. The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad also is known as the Lewis and Clark Railroad or Clark County Railroad. The Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad provides freight operation services on a line segment from Heisson to the south under a long-term operating contract with the county. Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.
I'd be interested in information about current customers. And their potential to add more shippers. Boxcab E50
IIRC, there is only one customer for freight on the line. A plastic company who gets a few hoppers of plastic pellets every so often, either in Battle Ground or nearby. The line is operated with only one loco. Unfortunately my last trip up there didn't bag me a shot of the loco.
John, have you heard anything about their steam program? I have heard undercurrents that are disturbing. Went up there last year to ride behind the Crossett Lumber No. 10. Seems it is no longer running. :tb-sad:
I havn't heard anything. On my trip up there, the steamer was in the shop. Course this was the off season anyhow so it didn't mean too much.
Wasn't the steamer refurbished within these past couple of years? If so, it should be in decent condition? Boxcab E50
There are two operators on this line. The Portland-Vancouver Junction Railroad has the freight contract to operate this line. The line itself has an interesting history- it was a Northern Pacific branchline, with the Longview, Portland & Northern taking over in 1960. The LP&N operated the line until 1981, when they sold it to the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad. The Chelatchie Prairie went belly up and declared bankruptcy, with permission received to abandon the line in 1985. Clark County stepped in at this point to purchase the line, with their first operating contract awarded to the Lewis & Clark Railroad. Both Chelatchie Prairie and Lewis & Clark operated passenger excursions in addition to the freight business. The Lewis & Clark eventually exited the passenger business and survived on freight alone until the contract came up for renewal a year or two ago, at which time Clark County awarded it to the Temple family, who set up the Portland Vancouver Junction. Some of the recent news reports have listed around 15 customers on the line, but the only real active or substantial shipper that I know of is the milk jug maker in Battle Ground. There was some major talk of a quarry opening up a few years ago, but I haven't heard if that project is still on. There has been some speculation that this line might one day host a revival of the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train, and the train set is currently stored on line. But nothing official. When the Lewis & Clark pulled out of the passenger end, a volunteer organization known as the Battle Ground, Yacolt, & Chelatchi Prairie Railroad Association (BYCX) took it over. There are no freight customers north of Battle Ground, so BYCX has that line to itself. BYCX got a successful operation up and running, but then Portland-Vancouver Junction came on the scene. There was a considerable amount of friction between the two organizations that cost BYCX most of one operating season, but they eventually got those issues worked out. BYCX did get the two steam locomotives and put one of them in operation. My understanding is that the group had some major internal strife that has kept the steam program grounded this year and for the forseeable future. That's what I know. Jeff Moore Elko, NV
