As a result of my involvement with
California Operation Lifesaver, a fellow volunter William Schertle,
invited me to ride in his personal ex-Denver & Rio Grande Western
motorcar on the McCloud Railway in early June 2006. We left from
Bill's house very early on Friday June 2nd. The McCloud Railway
motorcar excursion was set for June 3 and 4, 2006 and sponsored by the
Pacific Railcar Operators group on the
McCloud Railway. The McCloud Railway is in far Northern
California, less than 100 miles from the Oregon border. After an
all day driving
trip traversing most of the length of California, we arrived in Burney,
approximately 50 miles east of Redding,
the set-on site for the weekend. We immediately delivered the
motorcar to the set-on site and then checked into the motel nearby.
Saturday June 3 started with a 15
minute
safety
meeting given by Dave McClain, event coordinator, who went over the
travel plans and safety
information. There was bad news for the 28 motor cars, since the
railraod had
suffered a derailment the previous day at Curtis involving an
overturned centerbeam car and some wood chip cars.. This meant
that we would go to the derailment site, return to Burney, trailer the
motor car
to Bartle, then run into McCloud for dinner and tie up at Bartle.
At our 08:07 AM departure out of
Burney,
MP B59.0, the sky was
overcast. The first thing I noticed on a siding track are some
empty
freight cars, captive until the derailment can be cleared. The
railroad had a road crossing with CA Highway 89, which connects Burney
and McCloud, then
meandered through the trees on its way towards the junction easterly of
Bartle.
The railroad crossed over highway 89 which connects Burney and
McCloud. Below are views of the highway from the railroad.
Below are views of the railroad bridge from the road.
Below are views of the highway bridge and Lake Britton.
McCloud Railway
Motorcar Excursion Page 2
Richard Elgenson
RailNews Network Site
