On the plus side, the Placerville Branch (Rancho Cordova) has seen an uptick with the junkyard getting cars for the last month or so (had been no traffic at all for over a year), and the lumber yard at Sunrise getting one every couple of weeks (also had been no traffic for about a year). Cement traffic seems to be steady (supplying the freeway project?). And the string of flats is gone at Teichert's spur, though from prior posts those might have been cut up rather than dragged back into service. Also, if you believe the Manager's Chat archives, RT has almost finished rebuilding 2 of the old VTA cars they've had parked in the weeds for more than 10 years, supposedly as prototypes for fixing up the others (total a couple of dozen). Allegedly they would be extra cars for when the Green line Phase 1 (ummm ... to Greyhound's new station) and (dream dream) Blue line extension go into service. So despite the poor economy (Sacramento is one of the 10 "most miserable" cities according to Forbes) and budget cuts life does go on.