Skunk train: RIP

--Of interest to RR buffs: the Northern California Skunk RR is to shut down permanently after the Sept 2 run, due to lack of operating capital. I managed to get my first and probably last ride on it yesterday; sad to see it come to this. They've got a good-as-new Mikado class locomotive (that's just been thru a 20 month refit) to pull the train now and it's going back into mothballs in just one week! --Oh, and if anyone's got deep pockets one fellow I talked to said that $1.5M would buy them out, altho it would take another $1M to keep it running for the first year. Sigh...

Reply to
steamer
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Leo Reed wrote: Is this standard gauge? (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^ I rode it years ago when my kids were little. I'm pretty sure it is standard gauge. It's a great ride, and a shame to see in close down.

We rode one of the Skunk trains that was pulled by a diesel engine, which alternated with the steam one. Maybe a little less romantic, but still a great ride. What made it especially good for us was, we sat in the second row of seats behind the engineer--in front of us was a young boy who asked endless questions. The engineer answered them all very fully, so we had, not only the standard, somewhat dry, official narration over the speaker system, but all kinds of colorful and authentic additional information, thanks to this kid, and a warm-hearted and friendly driver. One of my fondest memories.

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

I'm wondering how things could go so wrong that they'd have to close up shop. I was a member of the Pacific Locomotive Association back in the mid 80's and it was mostly a bunch of men and their sons restoring railroad equipment. The operating days were fun, but not the main focus of the group and there was no issue of going broke. I can't imagine that they'd need $1M to run for one year.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

--At a guess probably half of it is insurance and so forth. Plus the loco rebuild can't have been cheap. Remember this is a working short line RR; i.e. it's a "for profit" operation as opposed to a foundation, so their standards of "success" are probably a bit different than most small operations, too.

Reply to
steamer

Speaking (or typing) of steam. When is the B & W steam in for steam boats.

Bill K7NOM

Reply to
Bill Janssen

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