Montague working to keep its railroad By BRAD SMITH Published: Friday, February 1, 2008 11:02 AM CST Daily News Photo Brad Smith - Montague merchants are working hard to keep the Blue Goose, pictured above, up and running. Daily News Staff Writer MONTAGUE - Some Montague business owners are worried that if the Central Oregon and Pacific railroad shuts down its service, it will have a serious effect on their community. 'If the trains goes - so will our business,' LeeAnn Meigs said. Last November, Meigs and her family opened the Dew Drop Inn, an espresso shop and cafe. Their plan was to focus on the tourists who ride the Blue Goose train when it runs in the summer. She fears that if CORP halts its service, it might have a negative impact on Montague business owners. 'I hope someone is working to prevent us from losing both the rails and the Blue Goose,' Meigs said. John Hammond, a Montague city councilman and business owner, said that the city is taking action. On Jan. 3, the council voted to join the Coos-Siskiyou Shippers Coalition (CSSC), a group of city and county governments and private companies who want to keep the rails open. 'It will be very detrimental to us (Montague) if we lose the rail lines,' Hammond said. Hammond said that the Montague Merchants' Association is working with the Yreka Western Railroad - the Blue Goose's owners and operators - to develop a 'historical railroad and downtown district.' Association president Trina Hale called the joint venture 'a logical step,' because Montague has a long history as a railroad town. 'Working with the YWRR to develop a tourist attraction centered on our railroad history will be a big benefit to us,' she said. According to Hale, Montague has been working hard to develop itself as a place for tourists; its annual balloon festival is a major attraction. She said the possible loss of the YWRR line and the Blue Goose shut down would not necessarily impact the balloon festival. 'The festival has gone on without the Blue Goose running,' Hale said. That being said, she added, losing the Blue Goose is something she doesn't want to see. Not only is it part of Montague's history, but it's loss would hurt the merchants' association's plan to develop the downtown district. County supervisor Jim Cook said he has been working hard to keep the rails open, and agreed that Montague would be hurt by the rail closure. 'I hope that the CSSC can make a difference,' he said. The coalition plans to lobby both the state and federal governments to convince them that it is important to keep the rails open, especially since fuel prices are high and the rails offer a less-expensive option to shippers. As for the Blue Goose, Cook said he feels it's "not in trouble yet.' Court Hammond (no relation to John Hammond), YWRR owner, agreed that there's a chance that the Blue Goose can survive if CORP shutdown local rail service. Losing the rail line would put 'incredible pressure' on the tourist train, he said, but options are possible "It will take a lot of community and state support. That means many people in this county coming together and working hard to keep the Goose running,' Hammond said. Hale said that one option is grant funding, something the Montague Merchants Association and YWRR are already looking into.
