In reply to Gerald Westfall and Allen Payne,

The project to connect to the depot in town will pick up where the last rebuild of the mainline between 11th and 7th streets left off. From 7th street north to the end of the track pocket in the platform is approximately 1/2 mile. This includes a completely new alignment for the track which must be graded, and an entirely new grade crossing at 4th street (Hwy 74) which is a state highway with modern crossing protection and interfaced with the Metrolink crossing and traffic signals. That's the basic scope of the project.

Mainline relay ties are on hand along with heavy rail to use for the project. New ties will be used for the Hwy 74 crossing and the mainline crossover to Metrolink. Metrolink installs their own switch in their own track. A rule of thumb is 4 cars of ballast per 100 feet of new track. What does that cost? 1/2 mile of copper trolley wire, not to mention feeder wire? That is a significant cost. Diesel fuel for all the equipment? Hovering at $4.00 a gallon. Signal interface with Metrolink and traffic signals? Permits? The costs are adding up. The 1M price tag is a bargain compared to what this would cost if it was completed entirely by contractors.

Museum volunteers are gearing up to do this project supplemented by contractors in minor roles where required.