Perhaps the best potential traffic source is McCloud Partner’s on going efforts to redevelop the old McCloud sawmill site. Rail access is one of their selling points, and they could land or grow one or more tenants that might be rail shippers. Their website is:

[www.mccloudpartners.com]

Permitting and environmental reviews continue on the company proposing to reopen the water bottling plant in Mt Shasta City, but that would only keep the rails shiny on the first half mile of the mainline, and that’s if they end up shipping anything by rail which is not guaranteed. The old warehouse and reload facility still stands in McCloud, it’s not outside the realm of possibilities that could become a reload point and regional freight depot similar to what the City of Prineville Railroad has developed, and for that matter a reincarnation of what it once was in the ‘80s and ‘90s. And I think the potential is still there for a successful tourist business, commercial car and engine repair, and rail car storage. Working against all of this is that the property needs an end to end complete rebuild, and is a very expensive property to operate and maintain. Finding and retaining employees could also be an issue. In the end all it takes is money. Either that or the Great Shasta Rail Trail gains their coveted extension into downtown Mt Shasta City...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NVM