Cleanup at rail yard
By Linda Williams/TWN Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/20/2008 12:22:58 PM PDT


Dismantlers have taken out five severely vandalized and burnt out railcars from the Willits rail yard, removing part of what had become a hangout for transients and area teens alike.
Willits issued a Notice of Nuisance to the North Coast Railway Authority in January following a series of fires including a near tragic situation where a homeless man was trapped in one of the burning cars.

The NCRA immediately established a working committee to work with the city, which included hiring a grounds keeper to secure and patrol the rail yard. The first order of business involved a general debris cleanup and boarding up the unsecured cars.

Willits police officers and firefighters have expressed satisfaction with the change observed at the yard once Willits resident Rod Whitney began taking charge of the site for the NCRA. "We now have someone from the railroad willing to sign a complaint," cited one officer.

At a recent Willits City Council meeting, several council members expressed satisfaction with the recent progress including the removal of the burnt out cars and the other efforts being made in the yard, although they did not consider the issue fully resolved.

The NCRA contracted with ALCO Metals to salvage the five cars. ALCO paid $22,500 for the salvage rights, which the NCRA had to send back to the state transportation fund, says NCRA Executive Director Mitch Stogner.

The NCRA intends to gather the remaining cars together and fence off the site to secure them.