Potpourri    July 2001
News and Tidbits from Fellow Insiders
From Mark
in California
   Mark sends a self-portrait taken on the old Southern Pacific Placerville Branch south of Folsom.

    The line is an extension of the original Sacramento Valley Railroad Road, reputedly the first rail line west of the Mississippi, that connected Sacramento to Folsom during the Gold Rush.  It winds its way through a collection of small Mother Lode towns such as Latrobe, Shingle Springs, and then up to Placerville.

    The rail is in fair condition, but some sections are degrading and tall grass chokes the rails.


Many of the grade crossings have been blacktopped.  It's been used on an occasional basis by local railcar enthusiasts, but I haven't seen them for a couple of years.  There is one small bridge crossing Deer Creek at the base of the foothills, and then the line gradually ascends with gentle curves up the grade to placerville.  Two ranchers have fenced across the line even though they have no authority to do so. 

    I have ridden four or five different sections of the line and, without exception, have thoroughly enjoyed them all.  Miles of gentle downhill are a great reward for some of the portage, fences and other inconviences.  The ride is spectacular during the spring, but a good summer's evening under a full moon really can't be beat.

Mark heads home as the setting sun throws long shadows across the landscape.
From Dan
in Washington
    We had a blast riding the Second Subdivision of the Camas Prairie Railroad the last week in April.  We started in Culdesac and rode uphill to Rubens, then coasted back down.
    The line is very spectacular.  It seemed to be the same size and scale as Carriso Gorge, but much more hospitable.  We had to hang out in one of the tunnels during a brief hail and lightening storm on the way down!

    I hope the railroad will come to its senses and decide not to abandon the tracks.  We talked to a local when we were done riding and he said the Nez Perce tribe is seeking an injunction to halt abandonment proceedings.  We'll have to see if that works.

    I also heard they have started to remove the tracks in Joseph (Idaho Northern & Pacific in northeasten Oregon).  We didn't make it out there, so we may have missed our last opportunity to ride through Wallowa Canyon.
We used one electric cart to haul four of us.  We overheated the motor controller a few times on the climb to Rubens.
Dan calls the electric cart a "railover".
It weights 65 pounds without batteries and folds up to mount on the bike rack of his Pathfiner.  It takes 15 minutes to set up and tear down.
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