Western Railroad Discussion > Siskyou Line Restoration

How close are they to restoring service over Siskyou Summit in Oregon and California.Last I heard was sometime around Mid October.Thanks

Posted from iPhone

Another discussion board (Altamont Press) has a post citing a conversation with an employee saying the work will done at the end of November. It often snows at the end of November so it will be an interesting time to start RR operations.

As in the AP post, I also noted extensive work has replaced ties across the Shasta Valley, tie piles are at numerous locations along the route, spotted a couple of hy-rail vehicles doing inspections. The other discussion mentions work on the pass and maybe the Oregon side.

Numerous posts have mentioned an increase in activity at the Mill in Weed, lots of cars in town, lots of activity at the mill and such. some of the activity is that the Mill is also replacing buildings that were lost in the fire. There's also activity replacing nearby houses and some work that appears to be related to the legal action concerning the town water supply (new underground pipes). There's a Law Suit about the water source being on RFP property but there is not a legal agreement related to the town using the water. Possibly since Weed had been a Mill town for many years, at some point the 'Mill' was essentially abandoned during a bankruptcy and has been returned to operations. During the fire they ran out of water and started pumping from the old mill pond. There's apparently some discussion about that, perhaps with Insurance ratings or such. So there is plenty of work around the Mill but it's not all related to the RR.

Also noted the Fruit Growers Supply Mill site in Yreka is looking pretty much complete, but not seeing any rail activity. Both FGS and the Timber Products yards have large fresh log decks, Timber Products has been doing whatever they do for a few years (just figured they are into kitchen cabinets). I;m not clear what the actual product being transported by rail will be, Suspect outbound loads from the two mills in Yreka and RFP moving Plywood venner inter-plant over the pass and also outbound loads to BB, Timber Products also has mills in Southern Oregon. The old YW switcher is still sitting inside the landscaping material company fence. No action but no further dis-assembly either. Engine House in town is still looking very locked but no other info.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/15 21:04 by TCnR.

Sounds like everyone's ready for the reopening and maybe a comeback of the lumber drags?

Posted from Android

Just down to Ashland and saw some activity, ties and ballast cars in places. Signals between Medford and Ashland still turned away from track.

Medford yard was pretty empty compared to my last visit in 2005


Jay
Sumner, WA

lamta_jay Wrote:
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> Signals between Medford and Ashland still turned away from track.

The signals from Ashland to just south of Tolo have been out of service since at least 10/17/14. At that time, the southern most in service signal was the pair at 4504/4505, right at the north switch of the Tolo wye.