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Re: End of the line getting closer ....
Author: WURR
Date: 05-27-2010 - 14:40
While a few of the trains each year were well patronized, the majority of the trains were only two revenue cars. Trying to keep the RDC's running cost extra money - they are now parked and for sale.
The railroad is owned by the Wallowa-Union Railroad Authority - a local government agency of appointed board members with no rail experience. A non-profit group "Friends of the Joseph Branch" is partially responsible for operation of the train. Recent years have seen stagnant ridership too low to financially support the operation, and most of the ticket income spent on contract ticketing, advertising and catering (dropped from most trains this year). There hasn't been a dedicated railroad manager the last few years, even if there was one they would be restricted by political considerations. There have been a couple serious attempts to operate under contract to a private party, but this would require the operator to pay the property taxes on the line (WURR does not pay as a public entity).
Once the storage cars are gone, WURR would no longer have any income to subsidize any operating loss, and the excursion train would have to pay all costs (signal, track, equip maint) to keep at least 25 miles of the 60+ mile line open for tourist trains.
Too bad, some of it is a beautiful ride in an isolated river canyon.
see www.eaglecaptrain.com
The railroad is owned by the Wallowa-Union Railroad Authority - a local government agency of appointed board members with no rail experience. A non-profit group "Friends of the Joseph Branch" is partially responsible for operation of the train. Recent years have seen stagnant ridership too low to financially support the operation, and most of the ticket income spent on contract ticketing, advertising and catering (dropped from most trains this year). There hasn't been a dedicated railroad manager the last few years, even if there was one they would be restricted by political considerations. There have been a couple serious attempts to operate under contract to a private party, but this would require the operator to pay the property taxes on the line (WURR does not pay as a public entity).
Once the storage cars are gone, WURR would no longer have any income to subsidize any operating loss, and the excursion train would have to pay all costs (signal, track, equip maint) to keep at least 25 miles of the 60+ mile line open for tourist trains.
Too bad, some of it is a beautiful ride in an isolated river canyon.
see www.eaglecaptrain.com
