Aug28--First of all, the big news. The California Western was sold
by Kyle Railways, effective August 16, to a group of 17 local investors
(Willits-Fort Bragg area). I don't know the purchase price. The sale includes
GP-9's 64 and 65, RS-11 62, motorcar M-300 (and I believe M-100 is still
on the property as well), the remaining fleet of ex-SP Harriman coaches
(and at least one ex-DL&W coach), and the right of way and other property.
I had the chance to talk to several CWR employees while we were there yesterday,
and the mood is clearly upbeat. One told me, "it can't get any worse".
The feeling is that Kyle management, after Willis Kyle passed away, didn't
care about the railroad and took everything they could out of it before
selling. The company made money last year, but little if any went back into
the railroad. Also, the ex-SP Daylight articulated chair cars (Pullman-Standard)
were sold prior to the sale of the railroad. They appear to be headed for
a new life as a restaurant, sans trucks, in San Diego. Kyle had apparently
operated with a "closed-door" policy, and wasn't interested in
the employee's feelings or suggestions.
The new owners seem intent on changing that. I was told that the new people
approached the employees with "We really aren't sure what we're doing
here. What do you suggest?" The impact was immediate. The employees
sense that the ownership is interested in building the railroad and its
business, and making it a strong, viable operation. No suggestion is being
ignored, and none are too small, or so it seems. The union is being retained,
as well. Management said of the union, "You have nothing to offer that
we need to be afraid of". This obviously bodes well for the future.
The investors have agreed that all profits earned by the railroad for the
first 5 years of new ownership will be reinvested in the railroad. Federal
ISTEA money may be sought, as well. There is much hope for upgrades to the
track structure. Track maintenance was very much in evidence during our
visit, with MOW track cars following the morning train out of Fort Bragg,
and a number of piles of old ties and new rail along the line. CWR purchases
used ties from a dealer who purchases them from SP, UP, and other roads.
The ties were previously buried in road crossings, and so were not exposed
to the weather as most are.
(BTW, I was told that some of the rail on the tail track of the Northspur
wye is the original 65-pound rail, laid in 1885! CWR also features a potpourri
of rail weights, from the 65-pound up to 115-pound. Possibly one size larger;
I don't recall for sure)
Expansion is also a possibility. While it may not happen next year, thee
is also hope that the summer passenger service may again include full trains
from Willits, as well as Fort Bragg. Such service operated as recently as
1994. The renewed operation may also include steam on both ends--management
is reportedly seeking a second steam locomotive, and several are being considered.
This is a company with a strong, loyal workforce. One person I spoke to
had been with the railroad for 28 years, had seen a lot of ups and downs
due to different ownerships in that time, and had been offered a position
with another company, for good money. He chose to stay with the CWR, at
least to see if the new ownership will be as good as their word. These people
are proud of their railroad, and the fact that their passenger operation
is not, in their view, just a "tourist train". CWR is a full common
carrier, with passenger trains operting under PUC tariff authority as a
public service. The service is operated year round, as many locations on
the railroad are not accessible by motor vehicle during the rainy season,
and actually delivers the mail (more on that later).
Kyle had cut service over the past year or so. The summer operating plan
for this year was:
- A diesel-powered consist leaving Fort Bragg at 10 am. Had 6 cars
yesterday, power is generally the 64. The 65 is held as backup power, and
only used enough to keep loose and FRA-certified (or for the occasional
freight moves, like today. RS-11 62 is the "backup to the backup").
- A motorcar (usually M-300) leaving Willits at 10.
Both morning trains meet at Northspur, the midway point. M-300 arrives first,
unloads, turns on the wye, and pulls into the clear on the bridge east of
the station. The diesel train then arrives, unloads, cuts off its power
and wyes the engine. The power then ties back on to the west end of the
consist. The diesel train reloads and returns to Fort Bragg first, followed
by the motorcar to Willits.
Afternoon service is similar, except that on Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday,
the diesel is replaced by 2-8-2 45 (Baldwin 58045, October 1934). The trains
leave each terminal at about 2 pm, and the procedure at Northspur is the
same, except that the 45 ties on, backs down eastward far enough to take
water, and then pulls west to let the motorcar into the platform. The motor
leaves for Willits first, after which the steam consist backs down to the
platform and then leaves for Fort Bragg.
AFAIK, off-season service (Labor Day-Memorial Day) is mostly the motorcars,
although the timetable lists steam service as operating on Saturdays in
May, September, and October (and gives the company the option of running
a diesel consist any day if demand warrants).
For me, the best part of the trip was riding the M-300 from Northspur to
Willits and back. There is a "railfan seat" on the car, a bench
type seat for two next to the engineer (we weren't quick enough to get it).
Even sitting in the next seats back (behind the baggage doors), the view
was great to the front and both sides. The scenery on the Northspur-Willits
end is the most spectacular on the line, rising from about 300 feet at Northspur
to about 1700 feet at the summit, about 5 miles west of Willits. Listening
to the Cummins diesel in M-300 is something else. . .
As I mentioned, these are not just "tourist" trains, but a regular
public service. The trains are probably the last in the US that deliver
and receive mail on the fly. Part of the ritual at Northspur is transferring
mail from the morning turn out of Ft. Bragg to the motor for delivery to
the 15 or so families on the line. The motorman checks each bag for the
addressee, and as he nears the person's home, blows one blast on the airhorn,
and then reaches out and tosses the mailbag onto their driveway. If that's
not enough, the car turns at Willits and puts on an even better show on
the afternoon turn to Northspur. On the way back, the motorman picks up
the mail, which has been hung by the residents on posts next to the track,
much in the manner of the old RPO's. The mail is picked up on the fly! The
motorman slows down a little (not always!), sticks his arm out the window,
and grabs the bag! This was a performance that drew applause from the passengers.
The mail is then transferred to the Fort Bragg turn (yesterday, behind steam)
at Northspur for delivery to the Postal Service.
Where else, in 1996, in the US, can you find mail delivered from and picked
up by a rail motorcar, and then forwarded behind steam?
BTW, the railroad sells 10-ride commuter tickets on its trains, and stops
on signal at the numerous flagstop shelters on the line. The motorman on
M-300 told me that they will often pick up residents and drop them off at
the door of the Safeway in Willits. The motor also handles a modest amount
of freight (LCL?) traffic--food and supplies for the concessionaire at Northspur,
lumber and other supplies for the residents, etc.
For my wife, the most memorable part of the trip may have been an incident
that took place as 45's train passed South Fork, about 10 miles out of Fort
Bragg. The line passes a number of Scout camps, and similar (and will stop
there for passengers on request). Three campers near South Fork decided
to "moon" our train as we passed. I didn't see it--silly me, I
was watching the engine! ;-)
For those interested in numbers:
Morning train from Fort Bragg:
64 (GP-9, ex-SP)
656 (ex-SP Harriman)
659 " "
658 " "
657 " "
??? " " (this car lacked the gold trim and lettering of the
rest of the fleet)
697 (ex-DL&W clerestory coach)
The 657 and 658 are open-top "observation" cars, with the roof
off and the sides removed to the belt rail.
The afternoon train was the same, except of course for the Mikado taking
the place of the GP-9.
The trains from Willits, both morning and afternoon, were motor M-300.
There was enough time between arrival and departure at Willits to walk up
to the NWP yard area, to take a quick look at the derelict power stored
there, and a longer look at the new power for the "new" Northwestern
Pacific.
The NWP power at Willits (1300 on 8/27/96):
4324 SD-9 (just arrived that morning, and being set up as we visited)
6595 GP35
6600 GP35
3844 GP-9
5305 SD-9
4327 SD-9
6595 and 6600 were in very faded SP gray and scarlet, with "NWPR"
stenciled on the cab sides. The rest were in the NWP's version of the SP
"Black Widow" scheme. The biggest change is that, instead of using
white (silver?) lettering for the road name, there is a logo on the sides
consisting of the letters "NWP" bisected by a bar with the words
"Northwestern Pacific". The logo is orange, with red trim on the
bar. Looks sharp!
The derelicts (which have been there for several years):
Central California Traction 80 Alco RS-1
CCT 42 Alco S-2
SP 4304 SD-9
Arcata & Mad River 104 GE 44-tonner
I don't recall the 104 being there when I visited in 1994, but it may have
been hidden behind other equipment.
(It was there in 1991-1992 when I made several trips through the area.--Steve)
There are also 2 derelict ex-CWR Baldwin switchers (S-12's?) stored on a
siding just east of the state hwy. 20 crossing, near Willits.
Well worth the visit, and the money. Adult fare for the all-day, Fort Bragg-Willits
round trip is $26 (for an 80-mile ride), not unreasonable at all. If you
visit, try to ride--except for the areas near the terminals, access to the
railroad is difficult or impossible. And you might want to bring an ample
supply of film--good ol' KR64 is hard to find in Willits, although I'm told
that a camera store near the Fort Bragg depot carries it in abundance.
Alan Kline
