The 10:45AM train from Fort Bragg, headed up by Engine 45, arrives at Northspur mile post 21.3 We have come 18.7 miles from our set-on point at Willits, CA. Our run today is 40 miles each way.
Southwest Railcar Ltd. - California Western
"Turkey Run" - November 25, 2006
Coordinator: Pat Coleman - Rail Host: Rod Whitney
Above: Marv Weber and the group gathering for the 8:30AM morning safety meeting. Right: Rich Corbell (red jacket) provided coffee and donuts. Your web page reporter is Wayne Parsons (green jacket)
Above: Meet coordinator Pat Coleman and rail host Rod Whitney conduct the safety meeting. In the background is Brent Gordon who supervised set-on.
Left: Nicholas Rhea (age 8) has been taught four safety rules: 1. Never step on the rails. 2. Look out for trains and speeders from any direction at anytime. 3. Always wear my helmet and seat belt. 4. Always listen to the meet coordinator.
When Nick recited these four rules for Pat, he was rewarded with a big smile!
After the safety meeting the lineup of 27 cars cross Commercial Street. The Skunk Line Station is the red building on the left at the rear.
This water tower is in the Willits yard limits around the corner from the station.
Nick is the flagman today.
With Rod Whitney in his famous police speeder in the lead, the group crosses busy CA State Route 101 (above) and Route 20 (below) and starts up the hill.
NARCOA Director at Large - Bernie Leaden from Nashville, TN.
The rail is slippery from the heavy dew and morning fog. We space out and keep the momentum up.
The orange car breaking out of the woods is about to enter the hair pin turn. We have made the turn and are 100 feet lower in elevation.
Northspur at MP 21.3 is an old lumber camp. We back into the leg of the wye on the left and the in-bound train will take the right leg. While the engine works around the wye, we'll go out behind the train and get to Fort Bragg ahead of it.
Here, deep in the north woods, we may have stumbled upon a satellite workshop or regional distribution point for Santa Claus. Certainly he must have such facilities! How else could he visit all the children of the world in one night?
Santa hands out pencils and candy canes! You never know where Santa Claus might turn up. Turns out he caught a ride with the speeder group in Rich Corbell's car.
Leaving Northspur we run two miles west to the siding at Alpine. There we go in the hole for the Rail Bus (right) and a maintenance of way Ford Rail Van (below) to go past. We follow the Ford Rail Van into Fort Bragg.
We're rolling again and looking forward to lunch. Note the seat belt, individual seat with a back, and helmet required for children.
One of many camps along the railroad. Some camps are just a few buildings for one family. Other camps are very large such as the Boys & Girls Club facility.
This little bit of "Okie Chrome" is preventing rain water from getting through the key hole in the locking gas cap and contaminating the fuel. If you have a locking gas cap and are finding water in the sediment bowl, you too may need some Okie Chrome.
At Fort Bragg the group splits in two to work the wye. The first part of the lineup is about to pull forward on the north leg and park next to the water tower. The second half of the group is moving down the south leg of the wye in front of the locomotive barn (right frame).
The California Western recently changed hands as part of an open bidding process that evaluated what financial resources and operating expertise a new owner could bring to the line. The winner was Sierra Railroad, operator of the Jamestown facilities that are part of the California Railroad Museum. (Sierra has also won the bid to operate the Virginia and Truckee line now being re-constructed.) On the California Western changes are already evident. The rail car at left, the rail car we met at Alpine and the steam train were all operating on this Saturday. Along the track, dirt and rock ballast is being added at sites that needed fill. New ties are evident in many places. A mud slide around mile 9 was quickly cleared. With better maintenance and more rail traffic, the "Redwood Route" aka "Skunk Line" looks on the way back. Thank you meet coordinator Pat Coleman and thank you California Western for hosting us again!