While I have not seen a formal announcement, I have spoken with four principles of the group that formed in 2015 to revive this small railway in downtown Anacortes. For reasons not completely clear to me, they have disbanded and stopped this effort. The City of Anacortes, which owns the locomotive and three train cars, as well as track, will be preparing plans for a permanent display of the train. I was told the group's 501(c)3 charter, which originally was affiliated with the Anacortes Antique Machinery Show, will be re-purposed for a different community project.
I think some of the factors that resulted in this failed effort include challenges in installing a railway facility in an area with many competing interests for land use, not owning the facility, insurance requirements set by the City, and projected cash flow for the group. I personally think that the example set by Tommy Thompson for 20 years of operating this small railway still generates much local interest in some sort of 18" gauge railway installation. For the past five weeks, I have been investigating alternative business plans for a line that would likely be located outside of Anacortes. If anyone is interested, please PM me and I will provide a brief status of this research, however with nothing secured, there is not much to announce on this forum.
Thank you,
Olin Anderson
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