During the years 1968 to 1970, I attended Humboldt State College in Arcata. I used to get up at 5 a.m., in order to be at Scotia before 6 a.m. to see the departure of PALCO's log train, usually behind Baldwin #105. In the enginehouse was #29. #35 was sitting outside in the yard. Engine 37 was gone by that time. The NWP was going full-blast, and 175-car freights left Eureka nightly from "south yard" at the end of Del Norte St., behind 6 SD-9's and two cabooses on the end, with a full 6-man crew.

Arcata & Mad River was running shay #7 on passenger trains between Korblex and Blue Lake on an actual schedule (printed). Up at Klamath, the Klamath & Hoppow Valley was running two steam engines. I was in "hog heaven"

In early 1970, I graduated and enlisted in the US Air Force. When I returned in 1976, railroad activity had basically ended in Humboldt county. Steam was a thing of the past, as were log trains. NWP was trying to survive alongside Redwood National Park. It's really sad thinking back of how it used to be up there. Also sad to see what has become of California Western Railroad and the entire city of Fort Bragg, Calif. My first trip to Fort Bragg was in July, 1965, a week after #45 first entered service on the CWR. I'm afraid the party is over up there!