Re: Durkee RDCs
Author: Erik H.
Date: 10-24-2013 - 07:49
SP5103 Wrote:
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> WURR had gotten a Connect Oregon grant for better
> passenger equipment to support the tourist train
> and keep the railroad open. ODOT pressured them
> into buying the RDCs as they hadn't found any
> other takers (and ODOT also administered the
> grant).
It didn't hurt that ODOT owned the RDCs and were required by the Legislature to sell them. So when WURA was awarded the ConnectOregon grant, the money never left ODOT's hands - it just went from one account (ConnectOregon) to another account (to pay for the RDCs). The cars then moved east from Portland to Elgin.