Western Railroad Discussion > Portland and Western Sherwood trestle question

The :Washington County Times (a free local paper in the Portland area) has a story on the rebuilding of the Portland and Western Sherwood trestle, which burned several years ago.  The rebuilding is almost complete; all that's needed is to finish up the track, which will be done when things get warmer.  It's also a more substantial trestle than before, even though no traffic has gone that way for many years.  My question is whether this indicates that the P&W may be planning to reopen the Rex Hll line to Newburgh and south rather than serve those areas exclusively from Albany.  There's also been some talk about commute trains towards Portland similar to the current WES service.  I'm not sure why the railroad would spend several million dollars with no expectation of ever using it.

Bob.....may have to do with the UP lease.    Arlen

Here is a link to the article.

Mike

 

asheldrake Wrote:
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> Bob.....may have to do with the UP lease.   
> Arlen

That's a good point--the lease may require the P&W to keep the line in good condition.  I still hope that there's something more to it than that--I suspect that the P&W could have rebuilt it more cheaply than it did and still satisfied a lease requirement.

BobB Wrote:
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> asheldrake Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bob.....may have to do with the UP lease.   
> > Arlen
>
> That's a good point--the lease may require the P&W
> to keep the line in good condition.  I still hope
> that there's something more to it than that--I
> suspect that the P&W could have rebuilt it more
> cheaply than it did and still satisfied a lease
> requirement.

Might be like rehabbing your house. You gotta meet todays building codes.

Because the P&W LEASED rather than PURCHASED the linee on a  (usually 20 years for ex-EsPee property) lease the UP can REQUIRE the property be returned in an equal or better condition should they decide to cancel the lease and take back the property. Since rebuilding at a later time would be more expensive it was probably  more prudent to replace the trestle at today's dollars under the insurance coverage in effect at the time of the loss.

Dick Samuels
Oregon Pacific Railroad



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/19 18:22 by EMDSW-1.

Thanks Mr. Samuels, that makes sense. I think your out fit should purchase the P&W.....it would be neat seeing your diesels on it. Maybe a steam guest once in a while?

CPRR Wrote:
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> Thanks Mr. Samuels, that makes sense. I think your
> out fit should purchase the P&W.....it would be
> neat seeing your diesels on it. Maybe a steam
> guest once in a while?

I have a feeling Dick is happy right where he is.

Keith in Roseburg