I believe the Oregon Pacific (www.oregonpacificrr.com) is the largest PRIVATELY OWNED shortline in Oregon. OPR (Oregon's Progressive Shortline Railroad) has received N O, NO, NO (understand NO) state, Federal or any other kind) of help. OPR goes it alone; revenue from operations (and a friendly banker) pays its way.

In order to "bare my soul" I neeed a couple of toddies; soooo, here goes...

OPR has applied for grants, etc. and be turned down because we owed taxes. Since we BOUGHT our railroad (as opposed to leasing) we had some unfortunate incidents (arson trestle fire; $125,000; flood damage; $50,000) we had to put off paying property taxes in order to stay in operation. BIG DEAL! ODOT, instead of working with us to get our taxes paid (by approving $250k in grants) files a lawsuit in the amount of $105,000 because we didn't fill out their annual report correctly. SOOO, we spend $25K on an attorney (enough to install 5000+ ties) and end up still putting in the ties to stay in business. THEN HAVE TO PAY THEIR GROSS REVENUE FEE!!!!

I'm curious just how the CORP takeover (by the International Port of Coos Bay) will work out...maybe some of the ODOT "experts" who previously worked for a "real" railroad and were fired can teach the new operator how to run a railroad...maybe they will leave ODOT to do so!!

Shortline railroading is not easy...it takes savvy and perserverance...but the end result is trackage that would be otherwise in China that is still serving customers and moving traffic that would be otherwise on the highways.

Long live the POTB, CORP and the rest of us shortlines that "do our thing" on a daily basis.

Time for another toddy!!!

Shortline Sammie