That would be a hoot, for sure. But old #19 would require some serious maintenance before the thought of running her over the hill could be considered.

In keeping with the original thread, here is an article by the Siskiyou Daily News, 17 Dec. 2008:

Montague, Calif. -
A Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruling is expected soon as to whether a new rail operator will be allowed to run on the Siskiyou Subdivision Rail Line (SSRL). In the meantime, some Siskiyou cities and groups are working together toward a different, but related goal: Public ownership of the SSRL.
Montague Mayor John Hammond said, “It has been a really tight time for private shippers over the Siskiyou Line,” adding that the entities involved feel that they may be able to stabilize the function and consistency of service on the line.
The entities, which include the county of Siskiyou and the cities of Yreka, Montague and Weed, form the Joint Powers Association (JPA), which is looking to gain control of the line. The JPA is working with Gary V. Hunter, Chairman and CEO of Railroad Industries Incorporated, a consulting firm familiar with the SSRL, to try to begin negotiations with the line’s owners, Union Pacific.
According to a media release from Hunter, the plan for public purchase of the line began with a meeting between JPA key members and staff, followed by the letter to Union Pacific declaring public interest in purchasing the line.
The next step would be a general feasibility study, determining the value of the line, evaluating the condition of the line, developing traffic estimates and revenue expectations and development of financial statements regarding expected operations and line sustainability.
The third phase, the release states, includes identification of long-term development strategies and benefits and Union Pacific negotiations and funding.
Hammond explained that the movement has found support in both California and Southern Oregon, including the cities of Ashland and Medford as well as Oregon Senator Alan Bates. Oregon recently saw the Port of Coos Bay receive a favorable ruling from the STB regarding a feederline application on Union Pacific rails.
Dave Pearce, mayor pro-tem of Weed, said that he believes that the rail line is vital for his city, citing the businesses who had regularly used the line to ship their goods.
“We feel that a public entity will be much more capable of providing money for rail structure and maintenance,” Hammond said. He added that the first steps have been put in motion already, with the awarding of a grant for $70,000 to do a feasibility study and to write applications for federal funding to help purchase the line if that ends up being a reality.
Hammond mentioned that it is important to remember that ultimately the process is still in its early stages and much of the progress from this point depends on Union Pacific’s willingness to negotiate whether or not they will consider selling the line. He explained that if Union Pacific doesn’t agree to sell the line, the JPA has a number of options, including dropping the pursuit altogether. Other options include submitting a feederline application to the STB, such as was the case in the Port of Coos Bay ruling, or the JPA can pursue a condemnation of the line as a public entity. Hammond called the last two options “adverserial” and stressed that they are avenues that the JPA does not want to have to try.
“I’m hopeful, I’m positive,” Hammond said. “I’m hopeful that Union Pacific will consider negotiations.”