While vacationing and traveling between San Francisco and Eureka the past couple of days, I've noticed the remnants of a railroad that parallels Highway 101 much of the way between Santa Rosa and Eureka. What can the more knowledgeable folks here tell me about this line? When did it last see trains? Which RR ran it?
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
From about Shively, north, you had the Northwestern Pacific.
Doesn't look to have been gone a real long time, as pavement markings are still visible at some crossings...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I noticed that Cloverdale has a relatively modern train depot built along the line- what a waste.
Further north it gets pretty rugged, so it doesn't surprise me that the line doesn't get used anymore.
The line through Eureka and into Arcata was in use until the El Nino rains in late 1998 caused landslides north of Willits.
As of April 2012, there wee still some GP9s (and a GP7 if I remember correctly) stranded in Eureka (I don't know if they are still extant). Although they will probably never be used again even if the line is reopened.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
The line is shut down after the shortline operator was hit with an FRA "Death Sentence" for failure to maintain, especially the signal system. How soon they forget. Line as far north as Willits will see trains again, Willits to Eureka through Eel River Canyon not so likely. (Skunk Train operator California Western was seriously harmed by the forced FRA embargo, It's freight operation lost its only connection to the outside world.)
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