On the port depth issue: USGS map per Terraserver shows channel depth of about 14 fathoms at the seaward end. It extends to the Eureka waterfront, Samoa (with a small turning basin there), and Fields Landing. Whether it maintains full depth to all points is questionable - most of the Bay is less than 6 fathoms, and much of it is less than 2 - but to Samoa at least the general depth contours appear to allow it. That means the current channel is supposedly over 60 feet deep. If true it would allow (barely) a standard container ship (not one of the huge new ones) to call at Samoa. At high tide. Luckily, the Samoa dock is seaward of the highway bridge, but if the RR goes to the dock you would have to fully grade-separate it (robots vs people - robots win when they're trains) through several towns and across several major highways. In an area known for frequent moderate to major earthquakes (the Big One - a magnitude 9 - last happened in the 1700's - may have another 100 yr or so before it's next due but they don't really run on a schedule).

I still think this is a scam or a troll. My mind could be changed - slightly - with credible references.