How would you like to take
this "Dream
Train" from
this
location to a heavenly
railfan destination? If your answer
is yes, let's go! Why call this a dream train?. For this
answer, we need to speak with Chris Skow of Trains and Travel.
Dreams can come true. Just ask
Chris Skow of
Trains and
Travel International. His 42 year dream came true on August
20, 2010 when the
Feather River Express pulled into the Emeryville California
station and out with passengers. About 125 people boarded the 14
private cars for this trip with 200 more expected at Sacremento.
While the
dream was to operate a charter passenger train to Portola, Mr.
Skow points out that this special train is the first regularly
scheduled passenger train for the public in 40 years. Of note is
the four buses
which delivered Plumas County passengers from a meeting point near
Portola to
Sacramento to take the train home. This train made a positive
impact on the 28th annual Portola Railroad Days (August 19-22) and
surrounding
economy. All accomodations were booked in and around the
surrounding
area. Nice touch to have a special passenger train traverse an
otherwise freight railroad route to small town America. The
railroad through the
Feather River Canyon and Portola in particular traces its history to
one Western Pacific Railroad, which connected Salt Lake City Utah to
San Francisco California. The Western Pacific was absorbed into
the
Union Pacific in 1983. Portola was an important location along
the railroad through dieselization. Most recently, the area has
seen reduced freight rail traffic since the Donner Pass route was
opened to doublestack intermodal trains. It was a nice
story to hear while on the way to Portola of how Chris Skow came to
work for
the WP. The story is a hearwarming one told personally by Chris
while standing in a vestibule on board the FRX. As a teenager, he
fell in love with the Feather River Canyon area and Portola.
Judging by the number of automobiles following the train, it's not so
hard to imagine a kid in the 1950's and 1960's enjoying this area so
much, that once he had his driver's license, he visited on his
own. For
Chris, the love of the area was so great, that once an opportunity came
along, he took it to live and work out of Portola for the WP.
We'lll get to the particulars, check out the train and depart for
Portola.
Our route will take former Southern Pacific trackage to Sacramento and
switch to former Western Pacific tracks to Oroville and Portola.
All Aboard the Feather River Express!
Imagine 14 mostly private cars pulling up to the station for your
pleaseure of an 8 hour ride from the east Bay Area of California to the
high Sierra Nevada mountains just shy of Nevada. Aboard the
Feather River Express dream train, you will
traverse mileage ranging from ocean waterfront to fertile fanmland to
major rivery canyons to majestic mountains.
A number
of
passengers and crew stayed at the Emeryville Woodfin Suites the
previous night. I met a
number of car attendents for Trains and Travel as my neighbors. I
met people whose names I recognized from public train posting
boards. Some of these people were active or retired railroaders
as well as a local luminary who promotes a large Stockton gathering in
March. Some of the above people were going to board. The
rest were
photographers interested to see the train. About 125 people
boarded in Emeryville.
Once aboard, it was goodbye to Emeryville, I happened
to be in the
Silver Lariat and caught up with
some passengers and crew. This couple had been waiting on the
platform
where I had spoken to them briefly. William Hall is a longtime
server
aboard the Silver Lariat. Note the passengers wearing
Portola
Railroad Days buttons. If not for the Nikon camera on the table,
this
photograph could have been taken in the heyday of passenger
railroading. I do belive at least one costume change took
place
for
the woman.
Once aboard, it was goodbye to Emeryville, I happened
to be in the
Silver Lariat and caught up with
some passengers and crew. This couple had been waiting on the
platform
where I had spoken to them briefly. William Hall is a longtime
server
aboard the Silver Lariat. Note the passengers wearing
Portola
Railroad Days buttons. If not for the Nikon camera on the table,
this
photograph could have been taken in the heyday of passenger
railroading. I do belive at least one costume change took
place
for
the woman.
The Golden Gate Bridge is barely
visible from certain locations along the FRX
route. Since it was an overcast August morning, capturing the
bridge did not yield good results. 
