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Re: End of the line getting closer ....
Author: Wallowa Editor
Date: 05-30-2010 - 06:51
Whoa!, as they say here in Wallowa County, horse and cattle country. I cover the WURR for the Wallowa County Chieftain, the local newspaper. First, the mill that was auctioned the other day hadn't operated (produced freight) for several years. So the auction did not bode the end of the line. Nobody had expected it to reopen anytime soon.
Board members have told me all along that the primary reason the two counties purchased the line was to maintain the infrastructure for future use, either freight, passenger or both. This means that at worst the railroad would mothball its fleet, not tear up the rails. Some local folks would like to turn it into a walking trail and one guy envisions a new pony express venture (remember, it's horse and cattle country). But none of these ideas has caught fire with the board or a majority of the populace.
The board is trying to keep the excursion trains running--it reduced the schedule, eliminating lightly patronized dates, to come closer to breaking even. As the stored centerbeams continue to dwindle, the board will be studying its options. Its UP contract doesn't expire until 2012, so the least payments will keep rolling in unless UP gives six months' notice to cancel and remove all the cars--there still are 859 in storage between the towns of Joseph and Wallowa.
One alternative in the original business plan was to acquire the Idaho Northern between Elgin and La Grande, which does produce freight revenue as it interchanges with UP at La Grande. That also would raise the possibility of a passenger schedule connecting with the Empire Builder if Amtrak revives it and if it stops in La Grande (admittedly, two big ifs).
Also, I'm interested in knowing how WURR knows the RDCs are for sale--the board has not taken any action along those lines so far as I know, and without the RDCs the trains would be very short since they have been serving as cars, not motive power.
Chuck Anderson
Editor and Publisher
Wallowa County Chieftain
Board members have told me all along that the primary reason the two counties purchased the line was to maintain the infrastructure for future use, either freight, passenger or both. This means that at worst the railroad would mothball its fleet, not tear up the rails. Some local folks would like to turn it into a walking trail and one guy envisions a new pony express venture (remember, it's horse and cattle country). But none of these ideas has caught fire with the board or a majority of the populace.
The board is trying to keep the excursion trains running--it reduced the schedule, eliminating lightly patronized dates, to come closer to breaking even. As the stored centerbeams continue to dwindle, the board will be studying its options. Its UP contract doesn't expire until 2012, so the least payments will keep rolling in unless UP gives six months' notice to cancel and remove all the cars--there still are 859 in storage between the towns of Joseph and Wallowa.
One alternative in the original business plan was to acquire the Idaho Northern between Elgin and La Grande, which does produce freight revenue as it interchanges with UP at La Grande. That also would raise the possibility of a passenger schedule connecting with the Empire Builder if Amtrak revives it and if it stops in La Grande (admittedly, two big ifs).
Also, I'm interested in knowing how WURR knows the RDCs are for sale--the board has not taken any action along those lines so far as I know, and without the RDCs the trains would be very short since they have been serving as cars, not motive power.
Chuck Anderson
Editor and Publisher
Wallowa County Chieftain
