I was down visiting my Grandad this weekend and noticed a very interesting article in the local paper. It seems as though Tacoma Rail (which is owned by Port of Tacoma) is selling the former MILW section of rail from Maytown to Chehalis. The buyer.....Port of Chehalis and Lewis co. According to the article there are no plans for tourism. They simply want the line to generate income that will be generated from car storage fees. This is essentially all that Tacoma Rail used this section of line for as well. There was a group of bikers that wanted to buy this section of ROW to turn into a bike trail. Although I would like to see a tourist train operate over this section of line, I am glad it will remain intact vs getting ripped out and scrapped to make way for another damn bike trail. We need those like we need a hole in the head. Ryan
I have been wondering about the finances of this "Port". If they'll maintain this line. And also, who will do any switching neded? BNSF? Tacoma Rail?
I wonder the same thing Ken. As far as switching the line, there has been a newly formed shortline in the twin cities area. Apparently it is a one loco operation that switches the cars that are currently on the line. I guess this generates enough revenue to warrant such an operation. My question that I have asked about this operation is why dont they try and get some business from the business parks in Centralia and Chehalis? The loco is apparently parked now on one of the tracks in the business park in Centralia. It would make sense to me that since the Port of Chehalis and Lewis co are purchasing this line that they would try and operate it and try to turn a profit. The only problem with this is that the trackage for the Centralia business park is owned by UP and the track in the Chehalis business park by BNSF. To me that just makes the most sense rather than simply using the line for nothing more than storage. Ryan
