Re: Fallen Comrades *PIC*

Jim Witherell (1946-2004) Author, historian, railfan. He was the author of three books (a fourth in progress) and numerous magazine articals dealing with western and railroad history. His well-researched work, “The Log Trains of Southern Idaho” with its tales of timber barons and corporate skullduggery has become highly collectable, prized by affecianados of arcane railroad literature.
Jim was a leading light of the SVRy. #100 restoration project, serving as secretary/treasurer and chief researcher for the restoration crew. His careful research and meticulous attention to historic detail will be long remembered.
At the time of his death, Jim was actively planning his retirement and the realization of a long-held ambition to own his own tourist railroad. The plan was to use restored mining critters and manriders on a 0.5 mile loop through an abandoned mining works (owned by the state) on the outskirts of Idaho City in the heart of the Boise Basin gold rush country. The route would have included a portion of the old Boise-Payette logging right-of-way covered in the “Log Trains” book. Rides would have included interpretive presentation of the area’s natural & cultural history. Given Jim’s business acumen, his extensive knowledge of the region’s history and contacts in state government, I believe he would have succeeded in a tough business where many have not.