Nostalgia & History > Shortline Saturday, Klamath Northern, 2011

This was one of those rare situations where a first time visit turned out to be pleasant.
I'd always wondered about when trains ran on the railroad that crosses Oregon Highway 58 notheast of Chumult. 
It's the Klamath Northern operating very slowly between the mill at Gilcrest and UP interchange at Mowitch, Oregon.
So one day in August 2011, I visited Gilcrest where I found the newer GE switching cars around.
It's pretty open around the mill area at Gicrest but I was on private property and after a while a fellow approched me and advised
that I could not take pictures there (1st picture), But, he then asked me where I was from. After a short time we were best buddies and I ended
up treating him to lunch!  A pretty simple operation with a 10 mph speed restriction over thw entire line which I recall was around 8 miles
long.

Regards, Jim Evans



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/21 08:53 by FiveChime.

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Good memories, Jim. On one of my infrequent visits I was photographing the 207 switching cars from close to the property line. After the the engineer was finishing and was trhowing a switch we talked a bit. Next thing I know he invisted me inside the engine house and we chatted for about 30 minutes. Nice fellow. Last I heard was the mill wasn't going to use the railroad/close down or something like that. Sad? - Tony J.

A well-done set of photos. Thanks for sharing these.
Bob

KNOR is about eleven miles long.  Interfor shut down the Gilchrist mill around May of last year, but then sold it in September to Nieman Enterprises, a Wyoming-based family operation that already has mills in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado.  The last reports I saw were that the sawmill was scheduled to reopen back in November, but I have not yet heard if that happened, or if it did if they are using the railroad or not.  I'd appreciate any updates on the situation there if anyone has any. 

And thanks Jim for posting the pictures! 

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

With lumber prices where they are they would be foolish not to reopen.

Out 

Live next to the UP (SP) mainline north of Chiloquin, Or. It has been several months since I have seen a "Gilcrist Turn" which was a once a week run on Wednesday.

Steve Panzik
Chiloquin, Or