Re: That other narrow gauge

John, The plan for the loop came first. There is a spring switch and a short stretch of track where the loop would tie back into the main. Things were simpler and cheaper when the plans for the loop were put into place. Now estimates run as high as $1M each for two bridges to span Cracker Creek, a main tributary of the Powder R. It is a Bull Trout habitat, and SVRy has been told "don't even submit a plan with supports midstream, cause we won't look at it". Estimates for the loop construction run as high as $2.5M. We own the "flag lot" composed of the 1/4 mile track leading to the depot. We are surrounded by Oregon State Park land. The loop would be on state property. Got any spare change?

So the idea to rebuild S-Wye came up. We had enough grant money to do the complete engineering study for the wye, so that has been completed. At S-Wye portions of the original piling exist at the Power R. We own S-Wye and enough tail track to turn the longest train we can possibly assemble. So, we are looking at the possibility of repairing the old bridge, or building a new one at $750k. The likelyhood is greater that we may complete an S-Wye rebuild than building the loop. We probably have enough track and ties to build the approaches to the bridge. Volunteers could do most of the track work to the bridge.

As you can see on the map, S-Wye is about 1/2+ mile from the Sumpter Depot. We would have the option as we approach Sumpter, of going onto the wye and push up to the depot. This would give us great exposure because the locomotive would be next to the park entrance, facing west. Or we could go into Sumpter, and upon departure back down and wye the train, then proceed to McEwen. Of course, we have a wye at McEwen.