Richwood Tahoe Railroad (Kentucky)

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 09, 2021 1:33 pm

Just found some recent photos of the railroad. It is in a very sad state and most likely will not run again...

https://abandonedonline.net/location/ri ... ai62lXU7E4

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 06, 2022 10:00 pm

Update: Was just made aware that the locomotive and rolling stock were recently sold to a private owner in Arizona. All of the track, signals, and the water tower were also pulled up fairly recently. Nothing left but gravel and the road crossings...

BM765 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:06 pm **Posts:** 151

I live just a few miles from this and I was never able to catch it in operation, even on days they were supposedly running. This was on the grounds of the corporate headquarters of a hotel operator who's owner is a railfan. What was always striking to me is that there was no maintenance area. The train was stored inside the tunnel which had closing doors at either end. If I had to guess, they grossly underestimated the maintenance that this would require which limited it's use right from the beginning. I also know that business has faced some financial issues in recent years which was probably the death blow to the railroad. I'm happy to hear that it has found a home. It was a really neat looking set up that had potential, but virtually no one in this area ever knew it even existed.

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 07, 2022 1:25 pm

BM765 wrote:

I live just a few miles from this and I was never able to catch it in operation, even on days they were supposedly running. This was on the grounds of the corporate headquarters of a hotel operator who's owner is a railfan. What was always striking to me is that there was no maintenance area. The train was stored inside the tunnel which had closing doors at either end. If I had to guess, they grossly underestimated the maintenance that this would require which limited it's use right from the beginning. I also know that business has faced some financial issues in recent years which was probably the death blow to the railroad. I'm happy to hear that it has found a home. It was a really neat looking set up that had potential, but virtually no one in this area ever knew it even existed.

The maintenance area was in the tunnel.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5736292

I believe when Bill Yung's son took over the day to day operations of the business he mothballed the railroad.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:14 pm

This Arizonan is forced to ask:

WHERE in Arizona? <:-D

BM765 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:06 pm **Posts:** 151

NS 3322 wrote:

BM765 wrote:

I live just a few miles from this and I was never able to catch it in operation, even on days they were supposedly running. This was on the grounds of the corporate headquarters of a hotel operator who's owner is a railfan. What was always striking to me is that there was no maintenance area. The train was stored inside the tunnel which had closing doors at either end. If I had to guess, they grossly underestimated the maintenance that this would require which limited it's use right from the beginning. I also know that business has faced some financial issues in recent years which was probably the death blow to the railroad. I'm happy to hear that it has found a home. It was a really neat looking set up that had potential, but virtually no one in this area ever knew it even existed.

The maintenance area was in the tunnel.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5736292

I believe when Bill Yung's son took over the day to day operations of the business he mothballed the railroad.

Thanks for posting that picture. Definitely more room in there than what it looked like from the outside and from a distance. I still suspect that the maintenance was underestimated. It hardly ever ran right from the beginning.

Mark Hedges · **Posted:** Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:59 pm

Nice way to make your hobby tax deductible. Or just plain charge to the company!

CA1 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:17 pm **Posts:** 246

Many, if not the majority of live steam railroads are a club or similar situation and these are basically all "non profits" so yes, if you donated $20K to the "non profit 7.5 gauge RR" that has an agreement to operate on your personal property, it would be a tax deduction.

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2022 10:49 am

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

This Arizonan is forced to ask:

WHERE in Arizona? <:-D

Unfortunately, the OP on Facebook did not give out that info. It was posted in the Park, Zoo & Amusement Ride Trains group.

Mark Jordan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:21 am **Posts:** 490

Yes, the tunnel was the service area. It was equipped with power, lights, and a full pit under the track.
What I found interesting was that there was no spur or siding track on the railroad. There was no place to park a car if it was out of service. The train only had two cars, but I still found this interesting.

Another thing to note was that the engine burned fuel oil / diesel fuel. To start the fire, a LP gas cylinder (like under your home grill) was kept in the fireman's spot in the cab, with an electric igniter. Turn on the gas, spark it, then add diesel as needed.
I could never convince them to take the LP cylinder out of the cab and leave it on the ground. It stayed next to the firebox for the duration as far as I know.