Siskiyou Rail News

Burninbob Oct 17, 2008

  1. Trax

    Trax New Member

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    Mean while, back on the Yreka Western today, the both the 11:00 excursion to Montague and the 2:00 Pumpkin Run went off without a hitch, albeit with the 21 (19 was low on fuel). Tim did a fine job as conductor, btw. Plans for next Saturday are to run the excursion and pumpkin runs with Pancho. Also, Pancho will pull the PLA special on Nov. 1.

    Larry Tuttle
    YW Engineer/Fireman
     
  2. CAPFlyer

    CAPFlyer TrainBoard Member

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    To the general public and anyone not involved in the transportation industry, the idea of "rolling" a commodity is a secret. Hell, they had investigations of the practice about 5 years ago at the national level because of complaints that were being leveled by several home builders saying that the lumber companies were using the practice to artificially drive up the cost of lumber.'

    The point again is that the lumber companies aren't the "innocent victims" they want to make themselves out to be. If they were, they wouldn't be open right now shipping lumber.
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    There have been investigations going back far further than just this recent decade. Long before you were born. Nothing has ever been found wrong with what is essentially mobile warehousing and distribution of a product. There are other things in lumber, of which the general public is unaware. As the general public is so happily blind to much of what surrounds them.

    Many lumber companies are laying off, and/or closing right now. It's more than just a seasonal downturn. They certainly are not able to pay greater costs, and survive at this point.

    Boxcab E50
     
  4. traindude109

    traindude109 TrainBoard Member

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    Ah Bill but I have! :tb-biggrin:

    A few weeks back Bill taught me the basics of firing the 19. I got to fire Pancho from Montague all the way up close to Viox Crossing. She was an easy locomotive to fire, she treated me well.

    All of us here are hoping for the best. Remember, the YW isn't called the "Little Railroad That Refuses To Die" for nothin'!
     
  5. Burninbob

    Burninbob TrainBoard Member

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    Alternative Rail Service on the Siskiyou's

    The clock is ticking and the Surface Transportation is expected to rule this week on Roseburg Forest Products,Timber Products and Suburban Propane's "Alternative Rail Service" application.
    In the application, The "West Texas & Lubbock Railroad" would operate on the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad from Weed, California to Dillard, Oregon.
    Both Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad and the two major shippers asked the STB to set the application aside to allow private talks to work out a deal.
    Those talks stalled out and the issue went back to the STB.
    Represenatives in the rail industry feels its a rate dispute and not a service issue. They also think there is a 75 percent chance the STB will dismiss the application this week.
    Entering into the issue is the current financial problems with the Yreka Western Railroad in Yreka, California and the financial problems with West Texas & Lubbock Railroad's parent company "Permian Basin Railways" and their relationship with CORP's parent RailAmerica.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 28, 2008
  6. Burninbob

    Burninbob TrainBoard Member

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    Yreka Western Railroad Faces Tough Money Problems

    Yreka Western Railroads money problems continure. Just
    listed at "Ozark Mountain Railcar" site is the 2-8-2 Mikado 2-8-2 Steam
    Engine for $645,000. The listing is higher than what its sister
    locomotive was sold for by Jeff Forbis of the McCloud for a little more
    than $400,000 to Nevada. The 19 does run, but it needs a lot of work
    to it. #19 is in foreclosure by note holder John Nixon of Granite Bay
    Loans & Investments from Rockin, CA. $305,000 is the price on the
    note he holds. Also in forecloseure is the Yreka Western Depot.
     
  7. Burninbob

    Burninbob TrainBoard Member

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    As an update. I did hear the note on the depot was for $800,000 ?
     
  8. Burninbob

    Burninbob TrainBoard Member

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    Yreka Western Railroad

    The clock is ticking on the Yreka Western Railroad. After talking with a number of people in the rail and banking industry the sand in the hour glass might have already ran out for the Yreka Western.
    The note holder on the 2-8-2v Mikado Steam Engine #19 says that he was a little surprised that it was listed at Ozark Mountain Rail for the $645,000 price tag. It seems the listing went in just before the engine was to repossessed and Ozark may not have a valid listing.
    The locomotive and depot notes are in the process of being bought by an East Coast Investment Company.
    Also according to Congressional Officials the STB is expected to issue their decision on the Alternative Rail Service Application very soon. But the decision may not be what the shippers on the line are expecting.
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    So has the loco actually been repossessed? Or is that on "hold" for now?

    Boxcab E50
     
  10. Burninbob

    Burninbob TrainBoard Member

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    Roseburg Forest Products confirmed yesterday that they have laid off 117 workers over the past three weeks at three of its Douglas County plants due to poor market conditions. More layoffs are expected.

    “We put it off as long as we could,” said Hank Snow, vice president of human resources at RFP.

    The layoffs include 32 hourly and four salaried workers at the wood products manufacturer’s plywood plant in Riddle; 54 hourly and five salaried workers at the particle board plant in Dillard; and 22 hourly workers at the plywood plant in Dillard, Snow said.

    Privately held Roseburg Forest Products is the largest employer in Douglas County with about 2,100 workers after the layoffs. It employs about 3,600 workers across the country.

    Roseburg Forest Products is unsure if the layoffs will be permanent or temporary.
    “It’s indefinite,” said Kris Backes, director of communication at RFP. “This market is pretty unpredictable.”

    Extra:

    Roseburg Forest Products Officials are very mum and have no comment about the pending Alternative Rail Service Application with the STB. Projected loads now on the segment from Weed, California to Dillard have dropped, and now may be less tha 3-5 loads per day, Monday thru Friday. Not very many for 80 miles of rail line thats not being used today.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 7, 2008

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