Western Railroad Discussion > NWP moves first outbound lumber loads since 1998

Former customers of the Legacy Northwestern Pacific are slowly returning to the fold as the railroad shows it is here to stay. Four center-beams of redwood from Redwood Empire Lumber Co. in Cloverdale were interchanged with California Northern at Lombard this afternoon. Redwood Empire Lumber Company is the last on line operating Redwood producer in Sonoma County. I-Phone Pictures by Mike Pechner

---

---

This load makes me smile. Some have said this day would never happen, nice to prove them wrong.

Freight Bandit strikes again

There was talk in 1999 of setting up a load platform across from the Cloverdale
station to handle Redwood Empire. Good to see them shipping again.

They still cut down redwood trees out there?

So they already opened all the way up to Cloverdale? Nice!

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They still cut down redwood trees out there?

Out here in Kalifornia we cut down any tree that will sell for lumber, charcoal, warmth, baseball bats, anything. If it was not for the Feds, we would cut them all down! Houses everywhere!!!!!!! FWYS everywhere!!!!! Disney Corp buying up everything, and USC/UCLA/private universities crank out the lawyers to keep us all in check. Ah, California....


On a serious note, yes some redwood farming continues. the old growth stuff is of limits, but some of the smaller stuff get cut.

I to am in shock they are operating out of Cloverdale. Willits next, then the Eel River........

The lumber was trucked to Windsor and transloaded at Standard Structures.

The mill is in Cloverdale, hopefully the next destination to be opened.

Can we dream of a train going all the way to EUREKA!

Frontrunner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can we dream of a train going all the way to
> EUREKA!


No, lets keep our heads on this planet for now, and dream about the NWP getting to Cloverdale, and after that, maybe willits.

Naysayers and California bashers: hard work can overcome. And taxpayer dollars. If this is for the long run, it just might pay for the trouble. B

doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Naysayers and California bashers: hard work can
> overcome. And taxpayer dollars. If this is for
> the long run, it just might pay for the trouble.
> B

Take away the huge taxpayer grants that refurbished this rail, and it would not have happened. I doubt this line will ever be able to repay the taxpayer welfare given it. It's basically government welfare that keeps this line open. Doesn't make economic sense, but politics won.

What a delightful sight! I've got every Pentrex NWP video, and this gives me hope they will return for a sequel someday.
Thanks for sharing.

Somehow I doubt the subsidies for highway 101 will be repaid. That is welfare, too.



coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Naysayers and California bashers: hard work
> can
> > overcome. And taxpayer dollars. If this is
> for
> > the long run, it just might pay for the trouble.
>
> > B
>
> Take away the huge taxpayer grants that
> refurbished this rail, and it would not have
> happened. I doubt this line will ever be able to
> repay the taxpayer welfare given it. It's
> basically government welfare that keeps this line
> open. Doesn't make economic sense, but politics
> won.

When it reaches Eureka and pulls 20-30 loads daily of timber, 365, I will be impressed

My thoughts exactly. Or any other road or airport we all frequent. B

Let's not forget that both the Capital Corridor and the San Joaquin rail services are receiving government money and if that money were to be taken away, what then? As an advocate of rail service vs. trucking, you contradict yourself! Sure a lot of taxpayer money has been infused into the revived NWP, but lets not forget how much taxpayer money is injected into Amtrak every year, the highway system and the airports........!!!!!!!! And is CalTrain & BART surviving on it's own without ANY taxpayer funding and/or bonds?

stash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Somehow I doubt the subsidies for highway 101 will
> be repaid. That is welfare, too.

That's right, Stash! You all have no idea how much we subsidize our roadway system, especially for trucking. Virtually all pavement maintenance costs are due to trucking damage. Cars do not damage asphalt. They're not heavy enough. ALl that rough pavement and all those potholes are due to truck damage. Ever tried driving in the right lane on I-5? Also costs associated with increased lane capacity, bridge strength, right-of-way width are due to trucking and their fees don't come close to covering those costs.

If all subsidies were removed from rail AND highways, I'd guess that railroads would be overwhelmed. And if they could somehow take on the increased traffic, we'd find that trucks are cost-effective at moving freight from railroad intermodal terminals to local customers, but not much else.

Stan Praisewater
Retired Civil Engineer

I would like to know what those huge centerbeams weigh when fully loaded with redwood.

Best regards,

Rob L.