Jim R Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Most likely the county will call in the salvage companies before long to recoup what they
> can out of the rail. Trail groups can then make the route a trail which will be a big hit
> in Oregon. Too bad. Maybe the County can milk a few dollars out of the Oregon State Parks
> system if it becomes a trail.

Hate to say it, but I think the Mount Hood Railroad would be far, far more successful as a bike trail than as a railroad. Right in the rain shadow so you have pretty decent weather for 3/4ths of the year (unlike the Portland metro area). Relatively flat trail up into the valley. Highway 35 is NO PLACE for a bike (yes, I know the triathlon cyclists who have a negative BMI and can do 200 miles a day can do it no problem); most of the other roads in the valley aren't much better (few or no shoulders).

MH/IPH tried way too hard with the passenger excursions, running those massively heavy, and top heavy, dome cars; then bought those awful east coast commuter cars that were just miserable to ride in. There's little/nothing to do in Parkdale other than have a picnic lunch; there's never been a consistent place to grab food except for the small grocery store and its deli. Despite the name "Mount Hood Railroad" there are very few to no views of Mount Hood; you actually see Mount Adams for a good part of the trip.

It's a nice ride...but it would make a great cycling trail. There are better places to run excursion trains.