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Re: SP Monterey Local memory
Author: Carol L. Voss
Date: 07-21-2008 - 08:43
The last train on the Monterey Branch ran in 1997. In August of 1999 TAMC, Transportation Agency of Monterey County, brought down a demonstration commuter train, ICE or TALGO or one of those, as far as Fort Ord. The UP apparently was sort of horn-swoggled into this and the track was in incredibly poor condition and even though they gave it a dusting of new ballast in the Fort Ord area, they couldn't move the train back and forth for the demos. The UP summarily removed the switch from the main line at Castroville and nothing has turned a wheel on it since.
TAMC, the major dope smokers of the area, has delusions of running a commuter train or an excursion train on the branch, which, of course depends on the permission of the ever accomodating UP who says, besides NO WAY, well, if you pay for a zillion dollars in upgrades to the main line to get the trains down there. Then TAMC has to pony up a zillion dollars to totally replace the line and retrofit the bridge over the Salinas river which was seriously torqued in the '89 earthquake. Meanwhile, the tracks end in the parking lot at Costco in Sand City and any commuters will have to be transported otherwise from there to anywhere else and any tourists on an excursion train the same. BTW, said excursion train would take 3+ hours to get here. Meanwhile, the UP has long since run to the bank with the $9 million TAMC ponied up for the rusted rails. They were hoping to unload the Santa Cruz branch but someone in Santa Cruz had the good sense to inspect the bridges along the ocean and note that they are looking like steel swiss cheese and so that deal has been stalled while they try to decide who is gonna fix this.
C.
TAMC, the major dope smokers of the area, has delusions of running a commuter train or an excursion train on the branch, which, of course depends on the permission of the ever accomodating UP who says, besides NO WAY, well, if you pay for a zillion dollars in upgrades to the main line to get the trains down there. Then TAMC has to pony up a zillion dollars to totally replace the line and retrofit the bridge over the Salinas river which was seriously torqued in the '89 earthquake. Meanwhile, the tracks end in the parking lot at Costco in Sand City and any commuters will have to be transported otherwise from there to anywhere else and any tourists on an excursion train the same. BTW, said excursion train would take 3+ hours to get here. Meanwhile, the UP has long since run to the bank with the $9 million TAMC ponied up for the rusted rails. They were hoping to unload the Santa Cruz branch but someone in Santa Cruz had the good sense to inspect the bridges along the ocean and note that they are looking like steel swiss cheese and so that deal has been stalled while they try to decide who is gonna fix this.
C.
