McCloud Railway abandonment

[Otto Vondrak]

The word through the grapevine is that a contract has been signed with a salvage company to begin scrapping the McCloud Railway on Monday, July 14... The bridge over Lake Brittain will also be removed.

More info about the railroad: http://www.shastasunset.com/history.php

-otto-

[RussNelson]

Ooohhhhhh, bridge removal is BAD. It leads to a loss of the right-of-way.

[Komachi]

Russ, you don't know the half of it...

Here (although, I'll warn you, it's not for the faint-of-heart)...

http://www.trainweb.org/mccloudrails/Mi ... pping.html

That's on the McCloud Rails website, which has a lot of interesting information about the railroad. Scope it out here...

http://www.trainweb.org/mccloudrails/


"The horror. The horror."
- Marlon Brando as Col. Kurtz in Apocolypse Now.

"Oh, the Humanity!"
- WLS reporter Herbert Morrison, upon witnessing the Hindenberg disaster in Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1937.

[espeefoamer]

Ouch. That hurts!

[Chessie GM50]

Just a question, is it the ENTIRE railroad, or just unprofitable parts?

[thebigham]

The tourist part of the line will not be scrapped.

[thebigham]

#25 is for sale:

http://www.mtshastanews.com/news/x19949 ... tive-No-25

By Gene Eagle, Mount Shasta Area Newspapers
Wed Nov 05, 2008, 02:07 PM PST
Despite heavy rains and cool temperatures, literally hundreds of people turned out over the weekend in McCloud, to bid a sad farewell to steam locomotive No. 25. Two scheduled chartered excursions, by different organizations, brought the steam locomotive out of storage, for what may be, its last run. Though the weather was uncooperative and there were a few minor problems, nothing seemed to dampen the spirits and enthusiasm of those who turned out. “History is being made here today, but not in a way we like to see,” uttered one rail fan. Though the historic two-day event was not highly publicized, it didn’t take long for McCloud residents to get wind of what was going on, and leave the warm, dry comforts of their homes, to get out and have a last look at their beloved steam locomotive. “My father was an engineer on Number 25 back in the ’60s, when I was a kid,” said Cindy English. English, born and raised in McCloud said, “It’s heartbreaking. I’m going to miss the sounds. We all will.”

[daylight4449]

isn't there something we can do?

[Otto Vondrak]

isn't there something we can do?

Not unless you have a few million dollars burning a hole in your pocket. And what's this "we" stuff?

amazing how quickly a railroad can be torn up:

Two years and three weeks after the last revenue freight train operated to Burney, the salvage of the railroad east of McCloud has begun. The contractor, Mathison Railroad Services of Spencer, Nebraska, started work in the Burney area during the week of 21 July. This section of the site will provide periodic updates and photos of the salvage efforts as they become available.

[daylight4449]

isn't there something we can do?

Not unless you have a few million dollars burning a hole in your pocket. And what's this "we" stuff?

amazing how quickly a railroad can be torn up:

Two years and three weeks after the last revenue freight train operated to Burney, the salvage of the railroad east of McCloud has begun. The contractor, Mathison Railroad Services of Spencer, Nebraska, started work in the Burney area during the week of 21 July. This section of the site will provide periodic updates and photos of the salvage efforts as they become available.

well, 18 has already gon all ove, so wouldn't it be possible to try and preserve 25?

[kevin.brackney]

Yes, it is sad; but even if you had had the money to buy the railroad, how would you sustain it?