JOHN-Yesterday, Friday December 17th at 5pm, the El Dorado Western Railway placed its first locomotive in operating service on the Placerville Branch at the town of El Dorado.This locomotive,a 18 ton Plymouth in excellent operational condition,was donated by Certenteed Corporation of Chowchilla,where it had been their switcher for decades.We believe this is the first locomotive movement on the Placerville Branch east of Folsom since S.P. stopped service.Track work is now underway, including brush removal, tie replacement, a storage/work spur, and road crossing restoration over the four mile El Dorado Western which will serve as the living history componet of the El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park.Our territory is currently defined as from the MotherLode Drive Crossing at the El Dorado Wye,to Missouri Flat Rd near Placerville.Other standard guage equipment is being scheduled for transport to hopefully initiate an introductory ride next summer.A third rail will be installed for our narrow gage equipment as the Railroad Park is developed.Track use west to Shingle Springs is also being encouraged by the County Supervisors.Please monitor our Blog and the Mountain Democrat newspaper for more information. Thanks- Keith Berry.