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California's Fillmore & Western: Still operating?

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  • Member since
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California's Fillmore & Western: Still operating?
Posted by caboose63 on Saturday, October 8, 2016 12:13 AM

Does anyone know if the Fillmore & Western Railway in Californina is still operating or has it stopped? I know in the last years or so it was running into trouble from NIMBYS in county government that wanted it shut down.

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 8:51 PM

Don't know the current status of the litigation, but several websites indicate that the Fillmore and Western is still operating at this time.  Tickets are available for a variety of excursions.

Chuck

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 9 posts
Posted by Steven Hintz on Monday, October 17, 2016 6:45 PM

Open-space crusaders have worked for years to shut down the railroad so they can turn the right-of-way into a hike/bike trail.  There have been lawsuits galore . . . the County Transportation Commission, a hand-puppet for the Board of Supervisors, has spent over a million dollars suing the railroad so far.  The ranchers and farmers that are adjacent to the railroad actually favor the railroad, having accommodated themselves to railroad activities that don't impinge on their property.  But they strongly oppose the hike/bike trail because you can't keep the people on the trail, unlike the train.  Nothing like a ton of hiker poop in your organic vegetable acreage to change your rating.  This is another great example of a small business providing a public service that is being ground into oblivion by big government.

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Posted by guyseattle on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:29 AM

Do comments always have to be political?

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  • From: US
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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:58 AM

guyseattle
Do comments always have to be political?

Two people have different opinions on anything - that is political difference.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    May 2007
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Posted by dfrancuch on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 10:02 AM

Yes, the Fillmore and Western Railway is still operating, and providing weekend passenger excursions.  In addition they are working with local film production companies on movie, television and advertising work.  In October the railroad is running weekend trains out to the local pumpkin patch on the east side of Santa Paula.  More information can be found here: http://www.fwry-blog.com/

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