From what I've ascertained through informed friends and my own railfanning,most all
of SJVR properties and operations have steadily increased revenue and carloads in
recent years,particularly the Huron branch and the Buttonwillow branch.The two
exceptions might be the Arvin branch(which doesn't see the potato shed business
like the halcyon days of the 70's and 80's)and the southern portion of the Exeter branch
(Exeter to Jovista)I'm not sure if they even go as far as Terra Bella except as
needed and management is mum about the future of this segment.Unfortunately,by the
time SJVR became a presence in this region over ten years ago,most of the shippers
had moved,closed down or found alternate forms of transportation.Southern Pacific
left this once healthy branch destitute(as it did many branches in the west) and
the death knell fell when the 6.3 miles between Richgrove and Mcfarland were torn
up.On the upside,I have seen jobs go out on the Buttonwillow branch (including
limited operations on the Sunset branch)3 times a day,and have seen 4,000 foot
trains tied up at night west of Gosford on the main line.Inside information,
however,is hard to come by unless you know someone inside management