> I have yet to hear of a committment from a single shipper to use the NWP.


I am sure that is an entirely true statement!

But please - why in the world would you have heard. The only credible source would have been the new operators or the customers themselves. And what reason would either have to to tell any of us silly railfans, or anyone else for that matter, who was not directly involved.

Unless of course they thought that doing so would somehow further their business interests. But it won't! When would it ever be a good idea to spill the beans on any business plan in the extremist heart of the Left Coast - Never! It's best to just do business as quietly as possible.

Whether the new operator will be able to drum up enough business in the face of such rabid local opposition remains to be seen, just as it is with any other new business start up in California.

What may not be like any other business startup; is the likelihood that local governments in the area will act to shut down every company willing to be a railroad customer. That has happened a lot here in CC County. Even eminent domain of the railroad customer's property has been successfully used in the past to accomplish the forcible closure of branch lines in Northern California. Short of that, there are innumerable ways to harass a business not "playing ball" with city hall - literally run them out on a rail a nickel and dime at a time.

Let's face it - Northern California (CC County & North) is not an easy place to do any business - other than selling shoes to highly "educated" idiots maybe.

OPB