If you want to see the bloody details they’re all on the STB website, in the filings section. S&S Shortline Leasing, initially affiliated with the S&S equipment leasing and brokering firm in Utah, leased the mainline from the museum and municipalities in the late 2000s, they cleared the brush and did some tamping and leveling work on the Shafter to Currie line and have been storing cars mostly at Shafter for years. Williams took the operation over at some point after that, it’s now part of his Midwest Pacific RailNet & Logistics. As per the STB filings as part of the settlement agreement the sellers (museum, city, county) agree to support Williams/S&S in their efforts to seek grants to rebuild the mainline for freight service, which is what Williams states in his filings are his plans. Given the amount of work the line needs it looks like a long shot at best, especially given William’s mixed track record on projects like that. And I doubt it would pay to scrap the NN out now, metal markets are going to have to recover a lot for that to happen.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV