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@ Carol
Author: Howard
Date: 10-07-2012 - 05:01
Carol,
I have been present or viewed live on TV the last three RTC meetings and the reason for the October 9th CTC reception train cancellation was the delay for the close of escrow. The delay was due to the following.
Northern Boundary
Previously RTC staff and consultants reported that there was significant discrepancy between where Union Pacific negotiators stated that milepost 31.39 (the northern boundary of the Branch Line purchase) is located and where RTC staff and consultants calculated milepost 31.39 to be located. Because different Union Pacific documents indicated the location of milepost 31.39 to be at different points along the Branch Line, staff calculated the location from the beginning of the Branch Line using the valuation maps of the property. On August 27, 2012, conversations with Union Pacific settled the location of milepost 31.39 very close to staff’s calculated location. The settled location is about 800 feet north of the Highway 1 crossing. RTC staff has already engaged a local firm to survey the location, generate a legal description for the grant deed and produce a survey map to be recorded. Union Pacific will review the work of the surveyor. The completion of the survey work should take about three weeks.
The RTC hoped to close escrow by this past Friday, but there is now a delay, up to two weeks, before the 10.2M in funds for the branch line purchase will be released by the state. For this reason the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway has delayed their start of operation until mid November and the RTC has set a tentative date for the community celebration for November 17th. NOTE: The RTC has not publically announced a date for the community celebration.
In addition, Michael Gresham, General Manager of the Pacific Region for Iowa Pacific Holdings, addressed the RTC at the October 4th meeting and gave an excellent description of their plans to grow the freight business in Watsonville. It is unfortunate the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway is missing out on the current freight traffic in Watsonville. Every time I go to Watsonville I see UP picking up four to five loaded refrigeration cars from Del Mar Foods and Terminal Freezer, and delivering a centerbeam of lumber to Big Creek. The new biofuel plant will be starting operation soon and they will be receiving tank cars of tallow daily. The prospects for freight business in Watsonville are excellent.
Once escrow closes the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway can hire personnel, bring in their equipment and do any necessary repairs to commence operations. I looking forward to seeing trains roll by again at Manresa.
I have been present or viewed live on TV the last three RTC meetings and the reason for the October 9th CTC reception train cancellation was the delay for the close of escrow. The delay was due to the following.
Northern Boundary
Previously RTC staff and consultants reported that there was significant discrepancy between where Union Pacific negotiators stated that milepost 31.39 (the northern boundary of the Branch Line purchase) is located and where RTC staff and consultants calculated milepost 31.39 to be located. Because different Union Pacific documents indicated the location of milepost 31.39 to be at different points along the Branch Line, staff calculated the location from the beginning of the Branch Line using the valuation maps of the property. On August 27, 2012, conversations with Union Pacific settled the location of milepost 31.39 very close to staff’s calculated location. The settled location is about 800 feet north of the Highway 1 crossing. RTC staff has already engaged a local firm to survey the location, generate a legal description for the grant deed and produce a survey map to be recorded. Union Pacific will review the work of the surveyor. The completion of the survey work should take about three weeks.
The RTC hoped to close escrow by this past Friday, but there is now a delay, up to two weeks, before the 10.2M in funds for the branch line purchase will be released by the state. For this reason the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway has delayed their start of operation until mid November and the RTC has set a tentative date for the community celebration for November 17th. NOTE: The RTC has not publically announced a date for the community celebration.
In addition, Michael Gresham, General Manager of the Pacific Region for Iowa Pacific Holdings, addressed the RTC at the October 4th meeting and gave an excellent description of their plans to grow the freight business in Watsonville. It is unfortunate the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway is missing out on the current freight traffic in Watsonville. Every time I go to Watsonville I see UP picking up four to five loaded refrigeration cars from Del Mar Foods and Terminal Freezer, and delivering a centerbeam of lumber to Big Creek. The new biofuel plant will be starting operation soon and they will be receiving tank cars of tallow daily. The prospects for freight business in Watsonville are excellent.
Once escrow closes the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway can hire personnel, bring in their equipment and do any necessary repairs to commence operations. I looking forward to seeing trains roll by again at Manresa.
