County believes Knox and Kane Railroad is finished
By Amy A. Thompson, Clarion News writer

County and state officials have confirmed the train, which ceased operation late last December for safety reasons, isn't likely to run again.

"I think it's done," said Clarion County Commissioner David Cyphert.

Cyphert said conservative estimates for fixing the line were at least $20
million, which was too expensive to attract private ownership.

Clarion County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Brad Ehrhart said in the past, businesses had complained of the train derailing, which led train officials to pull the train from operation last winter.

Wilson said the governor could acquire the funding from the state for
reconstruction but the two counties involved, Clarion and Jefferson, could
not afford a required local match.

"I don't think commissioners from the two counties were able to make the
commitment for the funds involved to meet the match," Wilson said. "I don't think they (the two counties) had half of it (the required match)," Wilson added.

At one point there also was discussion about forming a railroad authority,
which would operate under the Public Utility Commission. Cyphert explained the reason an authority was considered was because an authority has different funding opportunities than a private entity does.

But ultimately, putting the necessary money into the line no longer made
sense because only one industry, Clarion Boards Inc., would benefit from its presence, Ehrhart said.

Telephone calls to Sloane Cornell, the Knox and Kane Railroad owner, Clarion Boards Inc. officials and the governor's action team were not returned.

A journalism comrade forwarded to me an item from the Clarion News of north-central Pennsylvania, which I haven't been able to find online--edited version of my friend's forward below: