I don't know much about the Railtown opreation, but why don't they run south of the quarry, or even north of the station? Kinda of an odd question I needed to ask. TIA

I would imagine it has a lot to do with their contract with Sierra Northern, and the condition of the track, what's excepted and what's not. headed east toward Sonora isn't as scenic as the run down to Wood's Creek either, IMHO.

I think it has to also do with the allowable/desirable speed of the train. For most of the visiting public a trip of one hour (or less) is the best. And you can get in several round trips in a day using the same equipment.

Yes, there are long trips out there, like the D&S and C&TS, but look at the size of their trains.

Years ago, I read an item in the newsletter of a museum located in the Great Plains region. It was responding to the question as to why it did not extend its ride. It reflected on the hour duration and that to run further the speed would have to be faster and that would mean maintaining the track to a higher standard which would mean more time and money spent on track maintenance.

Thanks. But is it true that the opreation used to run past the Quarry in the 1990's?

I don't know all the details, but I think it has something to do with a sometimes tenuous relationship with the railroad owner, the Sierra Northern. Agreements have been made regarding trackage rights and maintenance. In the early 2000s there was a time the train did not run at all, and track was in very rough condition. Volunteers from WRM went out with equipment and rebuilt the railroad with Railtown volunteers. Track conditions have been improved and the state pays the shortline for trackage rights. Perhaps the state does not want to (or can't afford to) buy more rights from the shortline.

The standard argument I have heard is that the track beyond the quarry is not up to an acceptable FRA standard. However I have heard from some that know, that the track is actually in pretty good shape now, just an inspector has never been sent to qualify it.

The short run is a bit of a point of sore contention when brought up with older volunteers, though they are happy that a level of peace seems to have settled between the lawyers and officials. They do miss the days when wine and cheese trains used to run to Chinese Camp. Also short runs up the hill to Sonora would provide plenty of action. Some of the more interesting track is between Chinese Camp and Warnerville. Steam trains seem to run on it only for movie runs or rare trips to Oakdale. The double header event by the PLA a few years ago was one of those rare times.

I hope one day a non-profit or the state owns track out of Jamestown, in either or both directions. A small bit of the Angels Camp branch could be rebuilt for operation as well, perhaps putting a reversing loop beyond its current north end. One change I had heard about, was a communication company was interested in buying the entire railroad, presumably for a cable corridor or cellular transmission towers. I have not heard anything in a long time about that.

As a practical matter, that's probably about as long as it is wise to go if the equipment does not have restrooms and there are none out on the line.

And, if the destination is the same place where you boarded.

D&SNGRR and Grand Canyon take you somewhere to do something, and have toilets.

Railtown might do well to run from Drucker's Store to the Shady Rest.

dave

Thanks for the input guys!

I rode the Sierra Railway (Railtown 1897) back in 2008. SR 28 was all steamed up went as far to the part where ownership in trackage changes to the Sierra Railroad. Rumors were flying around that the State of California wanted to sell the railroad to the Sierra Railroad.

Railtown does not at all own the track past the switch to the main line. The only own the yard and everything in it. Railtown is a state historic park, it could never be put up for sale, nor is it. S.Ry. #28 is now down with a completely worn out firebox and will be out of operation for some time.

Mike