The History of Southern Pacific's Siskiyou Line . . .
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The Siskyou Line was built well, and over the entire right-of-way the track has been maintained at a relatively high standard: 132-lb. rail predominates, alhthough in some spots there is 90-lb. and 110-lb., as well as some 136-lb. Ballast along the line is mostly crushed rock, except for the segment between Ashland and Black Butte, which is mostly cinders - commonplace in volcano country. Much of the track is rated as FRA Class 3, meaning it is considered safe for trains running up to 40 mph. Between Grants Pass and Ashland (45 miles) and between Eugene and Divide (26 miles), it is Class 3. The remainder is FRA Class 2, rated for a maximum of 25 mph.Despite the line's generous federal speed advisories, actual speeds are not limited by roadbed conditions, but by the route's grades and tight curves. Moreover, several narrow tunnels demand a reduced speed limit. Due to restricted clearance, these tunnels also keep "Plate F" cars, primarily woodchip haulers, off segments of the route. [Most of these tunnels are on the line south of Medford; the modeled portion of the line (from Dillard to Cottage Grove) has no tunnels.] The Siskiyou Line serves Oregon's most productive timber region, and as a result the line's continued viability is considered vital to the state's economy. How vital? Consider that in 1988, Oregon Public Utility Commission figures revealed that 70,000 revenue shipments (definition: loads) were handled on the Siskiyou Line. Obviously, a tremendous volume is being moved over this secondary track. To put this in clearer perspective, the Denver & Rio Grande Western's application to purchase SP stated that 80,000 carloads of wood products originate on Oregon's rail network annually. If D&RGW's figure is accurate, then nearly seven-eigths of SP's Oregon lumber traffic comes directly off the Siskiyou Line. Despite its clear domination, lumber has not been the only commodity moving along the line in recent years. At Riddle, Glenbrook Nickel has opened a mining operation at the former Hanna Nickel facility, and the station is again moving goods by rail. And just outside Springfield Junction on Siskiyou trackage, there is a plastics firm that manufactures an assortment of durable PVC pipes. Two hundred miles to the south, in Medford and the surrounding area, loads of fruit - primarily pears, often package in gift boxes - move out in Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator cars. This traffic is especially heavy in the autumn. Numerous lumber companies are situated here and there at different stations alongside the meandering tracks. All told, there are about 30 lumber shippers on the line. This provides enough business along the way to warrant the positioning of local switchers in Roseburg, Grants Pass, and Medford. ... nearly seven-eigths of SP's Oregon lumber traffic comes directly off the Siskiyou Line. The busiest customer is Roseburg Forest Products Company [known to the locals as 'Roseburg Lumber'], the largest private timber business in Oregon. Based in Roseburg, it weighs in as the heaviest shipper of forest products on the SP nationwide, which is quite a distinction. Fifty cars a day go out from its extensive complex of Douglas County mills, and SP has a local crew assigned to handle the load six days a week. It's easy to understand why dedicated train service is required when one realizes what is included under the Roseburg Forest Products Company's umbrella. In addtion to a plywood mill in Roseburg, there are several different operations in Dillard, about 10 miles south of Roseburg: i.e., two plywood mills, a lumber mill, a plywood remanufacturing plant, and a particleboard facility. There is also a veneer mill in Dixonville, roughly five miles north of Roseburg. Recent news from other firms along the line promises to add to SP's traffic volume. Willamette industries agreed to lease and operate a laminated veneer mill that was closing in Winston, not far from Roseburg; and Oregon Fir Millwork announced plans to purchase a mill in White City, hiring as many as 100 new employees to manufacture wooden moldings. And an aluminum company, Alcan, has opened a facility in Wilbur, nine miles north of Roseburg. |
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