Russo Loco Wrote:
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> As noted, the tracks between Alturas and Lakeview
> were still in place in late May, 2009. Was
> the line still in use back then - just not yet
> torn up - or is it still in service? I
> presume if the latter, then the line from Alturas
> to Klamath Falls is still in service as well.
The line from Alturas to Lakeview is owned by Lake County Orgeon. It is currently operated by the Lake Railway. They have at least 2 ex-AlaskaRR GP40s in mostly black paint. I was driving south from Lakeview 3 weeks ago and found the northbound train just south of Davis Creek. Traffic is wood chips, finished lumber, and perlite which is loaded at the very end of the line in Lakeview. I did notice that is looked like there was a short strech of "new" trackage at the perlite loader. The original N-C-O passenger depot is also still standing in Lakeview. It is currently a private residence. It was for sale not that long ago too.
My dad and some others from the Reno area got a private tour of the depot a few years ago. Heating it was a major issue. The metal roof expands as the wind tends to get under it trying to lift it off in the winter. Also if you look at the depot using google satellite view you will discover that the depot sits directly in the flood path for the nearby creek. The city of Lakeview opens some flood doors and the water goes straight down Center street and into the depot. Well at least until the owner at the time of the tour had a low concrete wall installed along the front of the property. He said he had sand bags for the driveway.
The non-formerly narrow gauge section from Alturas to Klamath Falls, is still an active UP branch. UP operates from KF to Perez siding. There UP contracts the Lake Railway to take over the rest of the run to Alturas. The largest traffic boom on the line in a long time was a new interstate natural gas pipeline installed in the area. Many unit trains of gas pipe into Alturas and up to Lakeview made for more than a little bump in traffic.
