Does anybody know how the new Skunk operation (formerly the California Western Railroad, but I presume that is still the name painted on the equipment and what they are going by) is going with the Sierra management? The web site appears updated, the #45 looks black on the main page. When I was there many years ago it was painted beautiful shiny burgundy red and grey. On the webcam, the #45 (though I can't tell) appears to be burgundy as I remember it...looking a little worn on the front end. According to the site they are indeed running the 45 this year. Its last restoration was maybe 2000-2002 if I remember correctly. The #14 2-6-2T project apparently was scratched and it was returned back to Roots of Motive Power in Willits. Apparently the Feather River Short Line group was going to run the #8 there between Willits and Northspur, and they asked the V&T operation to restore and return it (or was it they offered to take it back and restore it themselves) and it did not happen. Of the #8 and #29, the two steamers being restored at the V&T's small shop building in Virginia City, I understand the #8 needs much less work and will be operational again first as the #29 needs serious work. The SP 0-6-0 from Stockton has sat virtually untouched I understand outside the shops, and plans to turn it into a 2-6-0 were also scrubbed.

If the Skunk experience is anything like it was around 1994-95, it was a first-class operation. The coaches are clean, well-kept; clean restrooms and water coolers. The last time we took the steam excursion to Northspur, 3 hours or so with a stopover there where there was food, drinks, live entertainment, and little things to buy. The open cars were vacated at the tunnels for safety, I remember those people would come in and wait in the aisles of the passenger cars. On our trip, the train was just about full. You can walk the length of the train as you please. Fort Bragg was also a great little town that people from the 'burbs down south don't get to see every day. The beaches were beautiful, as was the quaint and beautiful Little River Inn (which is by no means cheap, but well worth it).

Keep Steaming,
Ed Kelley



ed.kelley@discoverlivesteam.com