Call it what you will. Withdrawel, exemption, Santa Cruz County buying it, SCBT&P, dinner trains, it all ads up to one, at least as I see it, inescapable fact. The Santa Cruz branch, as we knew it, is finished. Failing the reopening of the old RMC/Lonestar now CEMEX plant, there is no way for it to ever be a viable rail operation.
Even if the People's Republic of Santa Cruz ends up owning it, how long before the power that be realize it worth more as scrap. As piles of rail and used ties appear on the right of way, we still have memories...
[
www.flickr.com]