Don Jewel of Santa Rosa, a superb photographer, eminent historian and all around good railfan did a little checking with Dave Andersen, the NCRA Engineer and came up with these facts:

To all,

I have been checking the NCRA website periodically for updates on progress to restore freight train service on the lower portion of the NWP and had not seen any new info for many months. So, last week I asked the NCRA for an update on repairs being done. This is the reply that I received from Mr. David Anderson of NCRA:

"There is several construction projects scheduled to start soon. NCRA last month awarded a signal contract to repair 27 signals; we will start repairs of a heavily storm damaged section of rail in the Schellville area next month; plan to award a bridge repair contract next month for about 40 bridges; and start track repairs this fall. As the above work gets started we will have many photos to put on the web site. Thank for your interest. NCRA"

That's the current status as of the end of August, but it looks like a lot will be occuring in the near future.

Don Jewell
Santa Rosa

I can also add that the $5 million signal contract work has already started with the contractor working out of the restored NWP Petaluma Freight House. Mike Pechner