Gary Hunter Wrote:
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> Any word yet when repairs will be made to the
> storm-affected portions of the ROW? Does the UP
> still technically own the branch until escrow
> clears? It would seem the ideal solution for the
> "gap" around the New Brighton washout would be to
> replace the culvert pipe with a larger diameter,
> and use coarse rock (French drain) instead of dirt
> to back fill. A little more expensive, but a much
> more permanent fix. Just a thought: Since Santa
> Cruz Co. probably owns the necessary equipment to
> implement repairs, a joint effort by UP and SC Co.
> could save $$$ for both parties.

Repair of the washout started this week. The work is being done by Sierra Northern and their sub-division Midland Rail.

I snipped the following from the latest SCCRTC documents.

The recent rainstorms caused a very significant washout of the Branch Line’s roadbed in Aptos along with other minor damages. Sierra Northern Railway’s locomotive is stored in the Live Oak area and now cannot be moved to Watsonville, where most of the freight shippers are located. Sierra Northern Railway is working to make the necessary repairs and coordinating with Union Pacific to ensure that all shippers continue to be served. Sierra Northern Railway anticipates that it will take about two to three weeks and $150,000 to make the necessary repairs to the large washout. Because this is a significant expense compared to the revenue on the Branch Line, Sierra Northern is pursuing all possibilities for disaster relief funding.

Based on what I have observed Sierra Northern will complete the repair in a timely manner and customers along the line will not be impacted. They clearly have the in house expertise and relationship with the County and Union Pacific to get the job done.