Interesting that the beginning of the new railroad is the "center of Polk Street"! Understand Mr. Lavocot sold the interchange with the P&W plus additional industrial land to the new "railroad" but retained the former Valley & Siletz shop building on Walnut Street for his own use as the Valley & Siletz Railroad LLC which has existed since his split from the Root Brothers.

Normally trackage is sold to the EDGE of a street (usually the most advantageous to the seller) to define crossing maintenance responsibilities. For example the ex-EsPee Molalla Branch was sold to the new railroad "beginning at a point in the centerline of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company Molalla Branch which is at the westernmost edge of Oregon Highway 99E" which clearly made maintenance of the four-lane crossing the new operator's responsibility. In the Oregon Independence case BOTH railroads stand to get in a pissing match with the City of Independence if t here is a maintenance issue concerning the crossing.

Co-organizer Kevin Mannix is a well-known Oregon lawyer / politician and most likely with co-investors has created a "railroad platform" to take advantage of certain laws favorable to railroads.

My take on the situation but just my opinion...and you know about what they say about opinions!

Dick Samuels
Oregon Pacific Railroad