posted
I offically know now. I Saw Workers working on the tracks and i saw a Train Signals being put up where a new road was crossing the Tracks. It doesn't look like its going to be too long before my Area Railroads are going back into operation for the first time in 4 years!! Whoopie do!!
rob_e Member # 487
posted
What Line is it??
quote:Originally posted by DrunkEngineer: I offically know now. I Saw Workers working on the tracks and i saw a Train Signals being put up where a new road was crossing the Tracks. It doesn't look like its going to be too long before my Area Railroads are going back into operation for the first time in 4 years!! Whoopie do!!
SteveD Member # 43
posted
Believe he's talkin' 'bout the NWP between Lombard(near Napa) and Pengrove(near Petaluma).
DrunkEngineer Member # 245
posted
Yeah NWP, Sorry i forgot to say that. It Runs Threw napa, threw the out sides of my town, threw Petaluma, threw santa rosa, And up on north toward Washtington and merges into BNSF's Main Washtington line that goes threw seattle. What Company is going to use my tracks? does anyone know??
SteveD Member # 43
posted
If you're serious, you're sadly mistaken about NWP's northern terminus. If you're not serious, why waste space here?
MPALMER Member # 125
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That D.E. guy tends to post stuff in a hurry (no spell- or fact- checks). The NWP does not connect with BNSF; it runs north to Willits and Eureka. I don't know what segments of the line are currently being rebuilt, but I'm glad to hear the line is coming back in service.
DrunkEngineer Member # 245
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Im a Fast Typer and some times i dont care bout the spelling, as long as you know what the word means it dont really matter if one bit of it is wrong. I Think this line is part of NWP But part of it was not operational for 4 years until soon. Back a month ago when i was walking on the tracks in santa rosa, i noticed that they were alittle shiny and some of the Big Steel Things that hold the Rail to the Wood things were new looking.
johnnychooch Member # 187
posted
Hey, D.E., don't worry about those frustrated english critics and rivet-counters too much. You write what you want.
Although I can't remember the name of the river canyon off hand, according to an old Pentrex video I have, that line from Willits to Petaluma is subject to some extreme seasonal washout conditions that were expensive for Espee to clean up. Maintaining an open line through there would still be quite a daunting task, I'm sure. I wonder, depending if they're going that far, what the new draw is?
John
DrunkEngineer Member # 245
posted
In Petaluma, There is a River and it floods in rainy seasion, The Wood Bridge there is weakend and They are building a new Concreet Rail Bridge right next to it. It looks almost done and they will be moving the rails over to the new bridge. Oh and i know that this line goes up into oregan because back in 1996, me, my sister, and mom took a road trip on up the Highway that goes right along the NWP Tracks, We got up to oregan and they were still there. Up there, It was an Active Train area, Just a few months before was when the Part of the NWP in my Area was closed. I Thought this line when up north and joined another line. Does it? Because it goes a long way up.
jfr72297 Member # 513
posted
from portland org it gose north to Vancover Wa then up the coast TO Seattle that is the old norhtern picfic line.
quote:Originally posted by DrunkEngineer: In Petaluma, There is a River and it floods in rainy seasion, The Wood Bridge there is weakend and They are building a new Concreet Rail Bridge right next to it. It looks almost done and they will be moving the rails over to the new bridge. Oh and i know that this line goes up into oregan because back in 1996, me, my sister, and mom took a road trip on up the Highway that goes right along the NWP Tracks, We got up to oregan and they were still there. Up there, It was an Active Train area, Just a few months before was when the Part of the NWP in my Area was closed. I Thought this line when up north and joined another line. Does it? Because it goes a long way up.
johnnychooch Member # 187
posted
If you can provide an accurate address (that includes street number, city, and state) of a facility or of a landmark near the railroad line, I can use a topo-map program I have to put an end to the guesswork here. All railines are shown, and almost all owners are listed. Regards, John
MPALMER Member # 125
posted
The Sunday 4/22 LA Times had an article about this line going back into operation. I did not realize the environmental folks were against reopening the line...they usually are *grudgingly* pro-rail. Evidently in the SP days a lot of toxic debris (old batteries, ties, etc.) was dumped along the line and in the river.
DrunkEngineer Member # 245
posted
There seems to be just some local freight going on here right now, few weeks ago i saw a SD40 or something like that pulling 5 grain cars on the line, few days ago i saw some grain cars parked on the grain elevader tracks in Petaluma.
Hey MPALMER what else do you know about this? do you know what companies are going to be runing on these tracks? i got a friend who lives near by the tracks here wondering.
[This message has been edited by DrunkEngineer (edited 04-23-2001).]
MPALMER Member # 125
posted
The LA Times article mentioned "Northwestern Pacific Railroad", a reincarnation of the old company. It is overseen by a public entity called the North Coast Rail Authority.
If there are rail hobby stores in your area that carry magazines, check out Flimsies West. It has had some articles about this line recently. Flimsies is published out of Chico.
AMConductor Member # 807
posted
Hey, Guys! It is, indeed, the reincarnation of the North Western Pacific. The State of California now owns the tracks all the way to Eureka. (This IS the end of the line! NO connections unless you count the Arcata & Mad River RR.) The state is contracting with a shortline operator to run it. It is open on the south end and they expect the line to Willits to reopen by December. As for the really nasty section along the Eel River and especially the Scotia Bluffs, who knows? I do know the state wants it all open to help get the trucks off the 101 as the highway is deteriorating quickly! Recently talked with people at the Cal Western in Willits. They are unsure if there will be any freight starting up on their line. There will have to be enough of it to make the extra track maintenace worth hauling those track-bashing cars over the line. Also heard that the UP HATES the NWP and that they are basically giving shippers cars "at cost" if they truck from Eureka to Yreka and load there. Ther is a web site for the North Coast Rail Authority. It is www.northcoastrailroad.org. You can check their progress on the web site. Time will tell if any of this will work or not. In the meantime, D.E., STAY OFF THE TRACKS!!! Remember...Expect a train on any track at any time!
[This message has been edited by AMConductor (edited 05-14-2001).]
SD40-2 Member # 767
posted
lol i didn't think this threand would last this long :P , as for thinking that the line went to oregan, forget that i dont think it does. near by sonoma here the tracks are totally shineing again just like the old days Anyways i am not totally excited about the line but i'm glad its reopening. I also live up in Bellingham WA part time up BNSF runs like 15-20 long halls per day, far more exciteing then here.
posted 
Anyways i am not totally excited about the line but i'm glad its reopening. I also live up in Bellingham WA part time up BNSF runs like 15-20 long halls per day, far more exciteing then here.