Highballing into ETTS
During the 1970s and 1980s, Oregon, Pacific & Eastern ran a steam excursion on their railroad. Using former McCloud River/Yreka Western 2-8-2 number 19, the trains departed from a station built near the famed Village Green resort. The train consisted of several former Illinois Central passenger cars, virtually unchanged from their pre-Amtrak appearance and condition.
This image was taken in August 1986, as the morning excursion train departed on its run. A few days afterward, the film "Stand by Me" would be released. Scenes from this critically-acclaimed movie had been filmed on OP&E the previous year.
In 1987, Kyle Railways sold its ownership share in OP&E to Bohemia, Inc., the line's primary shipper and a joint owner. The timber company wanted no part of the potential liability posed by the tourist train. After the 1987 season, OP&E became freight only. Eventually, all of the property along Interstate 5 was subjected to redevelopment.
After a long period of decline, the Village Green resort closed. Following the end of the excursion trains, this property was sold for retail use. Today, my vantage for this photograph would be inside of a Walmart Supercenter!
ETTS, as they say.
Highballing into ETTS
During the 1970s and 1980s, Oregon, Pacific & Eastern ran a steam excursion on their railroad. Using former McCloud River/Yreka Western 2-8-2 number 19, the trains departed from a station built near the famed Village Green resort. The train consisted of several former Illinois Central passenger cars, virtually unchanged from their pre-Amtrak appearance and condition.
This image was taken in August 1986, as the morning excursion train departed on its run. A few days afterward, the film "Stand by Me" would be released. Scenes from this critically-acclaimed movie had been filmed on OP&E the previous year.
In 1987, Kyle Railways sold its ownership share in OP&E to Bohemia, Inc., the line's primary shipper and a joint owner. The timber company wanted no part of the potential liability posed by the tourist train. After the 1987 season, OP&E became freight only. Eventually, all of the property along Interstate 5 was subjected to redevelopment.
After a long period of decline, the Village Green resort closed. Following the end of the excursion trains, this property was sold for retail use. Today, my vantage for this photograph would be inside of a Walmart Supercenter!
ETTS, as they say.