December 30, 2009

Tourist train from Folsom to El Dorado building steam


By Mike Roberts
Mother Lode News




The sound of a train whistle in the distance was last heard in El Dorado County in 1987, when the Southern Pacific made its last run from Folsom to Placerville.  “That was a really sad day for this county,” said District 3 Supervisor Jack Sweeney, who fought to retain rail service to Placerville. “Wetzel-Oviat [lumber mill] was still using it, but first the pear decline and then Michigan-Cal curtailing lumber shipments spelled the end of the railroad.”  That lonesome whistle could once more blow in El Dorado County if a bunch of stubborn Folsom rail enthusiasts get their way. The tracks and right of way are still in place, mostly. That’s only because the county fought to “bank” the right of way for future rail use under the federal “Rails to Trails” program, which encourages railroads to transfer inactive corridors to trail managers rather than sell them to adjacent landowners.  “We had to beat Southern Pacific Railroad in court three times,” said Sweeney. “They filed again and we beat them again, then they appealed and we beat them a third time.” As a result, a Joint Powers Authority now owns the corridor. It’s public property, under the control of representatives from El Dorado County, Sacramento County, the city of Folsom and the Sacramento Regional Transit District.  An excursion train on the old rails holds the promise of drawing visitors and money to the region, while bringing its colorful rail history back to life.




The Sacramento Valley Railroad was formed in 1852 with a vice president named William Sherman, who would later become famous for marching to the sea as a Union general in the Civil War.  The railroad began operations between Sacramento and Folsom in 1856 as the first commercial railroad west of  the Mississippi. Another historical figure of note, Theodore Judah, was a visionary chief engineer who saw the line as a contender to become the first transcontinental railroad.  Central Pacific eventually won that contest in dramatic fashion, as outlined in a series of Mountain Democrat articles by Doug Noble published in the 1980s and 1990s.  Under various names, the railroad continued on to Latrobe, then Shingle Springs and eventually Placerville and Camino, hauling lumber, freight and passengers. It came under the control of Southern Pacific in 1888, and continued operations for the next 99 years.  The route east from Folsom bypassed, and eventually doomed Clarksville, near modern-day El Dorado Hills, where the Tong family had optimistically named their inn “The Railroad House.” The flatter route through Latrobe allowed a more gentle elevation gain by winding through, and mostly around the foothills.




It’s that last curvy stretch that Folsom railroad buffs dream about. They tried for years to stimulate interest in an excursion line running from Old Town Folsom to Placerville.  The tracks remain largely intact, winding cross country at no more than a 2.4 percent grade through Latrobe, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Until recently, the tracks skirted Diamond Springs, then crossed the dramatic steel trestle over Weber Creek, emerging in Placerville adjacent to the county jail.  Their dream was pooh poohed in a 2003 feasibility study commissioned by the city of Folsom which concluded in rather harsh terms that the local group had neither the experience nor the funding to launch the project, and that the venture, like other excursion rail lines in California, would struggle financially.




Undeterred, the Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association, FEDS, led by president Bill Anderson, continued to operate the railroad museum in old town Folsom, and dream that they’d see trains running on the Placerville branch in their lifetime.




Meanwhile, Folsom launched a $20 million redevelopment project at the west end of Sutter Street on 5 acres that was once housed Folsom’s Southern Pacific shop. A replica of the Sacramento Valley Railroad’s turntable has been constructed in the middle of what was an unattractive parking lot. Plans are still in flux for other trainthemed amenities that could tie-in with the excursion.




In 2008 convivial Englishman Phillip Rose arrived in Folsom from the U.K. with a marketing background and a passion for all things rail. He teamed up with Anderson and began seeking support for an excursion rail from surrounding communities and the Joint Powers Authority, which controls the right of way.  Importantly, they convinced their fellow FEDS members to dial back the scope of their dream.  First, they had to abandon the idea of going all the way to Placerville. The rail corridor between Missouri Flat Road and Placerville has since become a dedicated bike and foot trail, and the dramatic steel trestle would likely require an expensive retrofit.




Harder still was giving up Old Town Folsom. The rail line crosses streets 11 times in the congested area between Sutter Street and what’s now called “Folsom Point,” the commercial area immediately west of Costco.  The area needs public transit options far more than a potentially traffic snarling tourist attraction.  FEDS leaders hope to team up with city officials to attract funding for a clean energy transit line - historical trolleys come to mind - that will one day connect Old Town Folsom with an excursion train station at Folsom Point and all the homes and businesses in between.




The shortened excursion line would eventually run along 31 miles of track from Folsom Point to historical El Dorado, the eventual home of the El Dorado County Rail Museum.  Rose got permission from the JPA for a series of consciousness-raising demonstration runs along a portion of the line for local officials and media representatives this summer, all the while pitching his dream of a revitalized “Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad” excursion to a captive and influential audience.




The invitation-only excursions ran in a carefully restored 1936 gas-powered rail car called the “Skagit,” originally used in logging and industrial yards.




Not just trains.




Original plans for the excursion line put hikers and bicyclists in competition with rails. The latest vision includes Folsom trails planner Jim Konopka, who is confident that a bicycle/hiking trail, in addition to an unpaved equestrian trail can share the rail corridor, even in the narrow cut areas.  In some cases, he said, separate footbridges may be needed, and in other areas, strips of adjacent land may need to be acquired.




Rose, Anderson et al hope to get the go-ahead from the JPA to run the excursion from Folsom Point to Latrobe for the public every weekend next summer. In the mean time they’ll be working to repair a washout roughly two miles south of Latrobe that is the de facto terminus of the excursion. A proper crossing is established at White Rock Road is also needed.




Eventually, FEDS volunteers hope to use a pair of diesel locomotives to haul a combination of open flat cars, a restored coach and a caboose, first as far as Latrobe, then later, when more track restoration is complete, all the way to El Dorado.




In their wildest dreams, FEDS volunteers see steam trains once again running on the rails. The cost and upkeep of the vintage steamers is beyond the scope of their current proposals, however.  Rose insists that the excursion can be accomplished piecemeal, and that momentum, and funding, will grow with each successive phase. He helped a similar historical rail line become a major regional tourist attraction near his home in England.




Sweeney sees the project as a potential economic shot in the arm for El Dorado County, and a vital link in a trail corridor that could bisect the state.  “One day you’ll be able to walk, bicycle or maybe even ride a horse all the way from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe,” he said. “Think what it could do for tourism. It’s a gold mine.”  The backers understand the challenges they face. But Sweeney insists “Volunteers and willpower can overcome a lot of obstacles.”  “Twenty years from now people will look back and ask who had the foresight to put something like this in,” he predicted.




Volunteers and donations are needed. To help out or learn more, see www.president@psvrr.org, mroberts@mtdemocrat.net




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December 18, 2009

Passenger Car Project















Decking removed for passenger cars in Folsom.  Concrete decks will be poured and seats installed.  Stay tuned for further developments.



December 06, 2009

HISTORIC FOLSOM STATION

Below are the plans of the Railroad Block in Old Town Folsom.  The track will be able to run back to the Historic Depot as it once did.  Usage of the rebuilt turn-table would then be an option as well.  These are exciting times for the people of Folsom and the volunteers that are behind making this project a reality.

December 05, 2009

RECENTLY ON THE PSVRR


(Philip Rose Photos)

December 03, 2009

Past Picture From The PSVRR


All aboard the Hangtown Express!  Next Stop-Shingle Springs.

December 02, 2009

Camino Placerville And Lake Tahoe RR

Pictures taken near Placerville








(Pictures thanks to Andy Thomas)

November 26, 2009

MESSAGE FROM ERIC OLDS-HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


I hope everyone is looking forward to a great Thanksgiving with family and friends tomorrow. As I consider this past year since last November, I can think of much pertaining to the railroad we have to be thankful for: donations of new rolling stock, museum artifacts, and shop equipment, progress on our excursion proposal, equipment restoration/reconditioning, annual Handcar Derby and Skagit excursions on the Amador Central/Foothills Railroad for the Ione Railfair, our VIP Skagit ecursions on the start-up segment of our line, and new members jumping in where able to support these endeavors and help make the railroad not just a dream, but a reality!




Here are some photos from one of our two weekend workdays this month courtesy of Mark Spellman. I'd like to thank new members Ray Retalick and Dick Rein along with active members Mark Spellman, Ethan Doty, Philip Rose, and Marcus Ferrill for helping out with work on the line this month. Our next regularly scheduled Saturday Workday will be Dec 12th, so please mark you calendar. More details to come.




For over a decade, FEDS volunteers have been working to preserve this uniquely historic line. Their hard work and dedication, giving of talents and countless hours of time, have made possible this opportunity before us to create a recreational railroad that will be a true asset to our community. Please consider how you can assist us in continuing to move ahead. Obviously, workdays on the weekends or weekdays on the track or in the shop are one way, but there is much more to do including volunteer recruitment, marketing, manning the museum, design and construction of facilities and equipment, etc.



Please join me in giving thanks for what has been accomplished thus far and looking forward to what lay ahead...

Happy Thankgiving and Happy Rails,



  (photos courtesy of Mark Spellman)


Eric Olds

SVRR LOCO


November 22, 2009

November 08, 2009

Southern Pacific's Placerville Turn


White Rock Heading West

Latrobe


South Of Placerville

Eastbound at White Rock

(Photos Thanks to Vic Neves)

November 06, 2009

Laying tracks for the future

By Don Chaddock The Telegraph

Philip Wood / The Telegraph
Conductor Doug Fuller, left, and railroad association president Bill Anderson discuss the rest of the tour during a brief stop on a 60-foot-long “open grate” bridge that was constructed in 1913. The local railroad group hopes to restore the tracks so regular excursion runs can be made from Folsom up to Latrobe and eventually Shingle Springs.
A whistle blows and the conductor yells, “All aboard,” on an otherwise quiet day in Folsom near Highway 50.
On board the 72-year-old rail motorcar were representatives of the Clarksville Region Historical Society, members of the Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association and other interested people all exploring the railroad line that organizers hope can be restored.
The Tuesday, Aug. 25, trip marked the first official run of the Skagit, a 20-person motorized railcar. The purpose of the trip was to make people aware of the potential of the rail line.
“This is historically significant,” said Bill Anderson, president of the local railroad association. “It was built in 1864.”
The organization hopes to start offering excursion runs from Highway 50, behind the new hotel and In-n-Out, to Latrobe and eventually up to Shingle Springs.
Along the two-hour tour, conductor Doug Fuller asked Engineer Bob Morison to stop at certain points so historic landmarks could be pointed out.
Some of those on the trip were impressed.
“What amazes me is this was all done by hand,” said Hal Erpenbeck.
The car rolled along the tracks over bridges and through hills.
“This is the first of two major cuts (along) the route,” Fuller said.
Most of line runs through pastures, over creeks and crosses into El Dorado County.
“Rather idyllic scene, isn’t it?” Fuller said as the car stopped atop an “open-grate” bridge over a creek. The bridge was constructed in 1913 and is 60 feet in length, according to Fuller.
The rail line currently stops at an area that has been washed out.
“It’s not safe to go any farther,” said Fuller.
According to Anderson, the cost to repair that stretch of line is estimated at $70,000.
The organization is working with the Joint Powers Authority, the city of Folsom and organizations throughout the region to help make the new rail line a reality. They also hope to offer a shuttle service from the light rail station in the historic district up to the area near Highway 50.
Pat Thomson,with the Clarksville Region Historical Society based in El Dorado Hills, thoguth the trip was entertaining and informative.
“This is excellent,” she said. “Very excellent. Isn’t it wonderful?”