The Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad has filed to abandoned the line from Cochran to Tillamook, Oregon. Not sure whether this means finis for the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway that runs between Garibaldi and Wheeler, or whether said excursion operation will have to assume operation/ownership of the trackage or entire line, though the line had been building a $2.5 million restoration shop and visitors center, last I heard. The American Shortline Railway Guide indicates that the trackage is mostly owned by the State of Oregon since 1990, and seems to imply that the POTB is a contract/designated operator:
Quote: NOTICE OF INTENT TO ABANDON RAIL SERVICE: The Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad ("POTB") gives notice that on or about December 8, 2009, it intends to file with the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423, a notice of exemption pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F - Exempt Abandonments, permitting the discontinuance of service of the 59.3-mile segment of the line of railroad which runs from Milepost 800, near Cochran, Washington County, Oregon through to milepost 859.3 near Tillamook, Tillamook County, Oregon. This line runs also runs through Banks, Timber, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi and Bay City, all in either Washington or Tillamook Counties and traverses through United States Postal Zip Codes 97106, 97144, 97131, 97147, 97136, 97141, 97118 and 97107. The proceeding will be docketed as STB Docket No. AB-1055 (Sub-No. X). The Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) will generally prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA), which will normally be available 25 days after the filing of the notice of exemption. Comments on environmental and energy matters should be filed no later than 15 days after the EA becomes available to the public, and will be addressed in a Board decision. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the EA or make inquiries regarding environmental matters by writing to the Section of Environmental Analysis, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001 or by calling that office at (202) 245-0295. Appropriate offers of financial assistance to continue rail service can be filed with the Board. Requests for environmental conditions, public use conditions, or rail banking/trails use also can be filed with the Board. An original and 10 copies of any pleading that raises matters other than environmental issues (such as trails use, public use, and offers of financial assistance) must be filed directly with the Board's Office of the Secretary, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001 [see 49 CFR 1104.1(a) and 1104.3(a)], and one copy must be served on applicant's representative [see 49 CFR 1104.12(a)]. Questions regarding offers of financial assistance, public use or trails use may be directed to the Board's Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs and Compliance at (202) 245-0238. Copies of any comments or requests for conditions should be served on the applicant's representative: Eric M. Hocky, Esquire, Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19103; (215) 640-8500.
Related Categories: Notices and Announcements - Legal Notice Published in The Oregonian 12/2. Updated 12/2.
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