Resources and Reflections

Out here in Mendocino County California, we’ve got ourselves a railroad. Yep, in these parts, around Ukiah, the old line runs through the vineyards and decaying lumber operations, along the Russian River up north about nine miles to Redwood Valley, and then about three more to Laughlin Road and the foot of the old grade up the Laughlin Range and over to Willits. But that’s a whole different story altogether. Right here we’re just going to take a look at and talk about the section from the old station in downtown Ukiah to Laughlin Road up in Redwood Valley. The line is owned by the NCRA (North Coast Railroad Authority), a type public trust agency whose board of directors is appointed by the various County boards of Supervisors, as this non-lawyer understands it.

The Funtrain
Now, I know a County Supervisor who calls this “The Funtrain Route”; an excursion line along the model of the well know “Skunk Train” up in Willits. And I think that’s a fine idea. He and I agree that to make something like that happen, the first thing to do is to publish a visual and geospatial record  of the existing conditions along this section of rail, and get a public conversation going along these lines. (Speaking of a “good visual record”, let me warn in advance that there are many poor photos in the attached galleries that will be upgraded as time, weather and hardware permit). So what you read here is provided for just that purpose; to get people talking about and involved in the preservation of the rail (at the least) and, if there’s enough will, to refurbish and recommission this segment for the benefit of local people and businesses

Picture, if you will, going down with your visiting friends and family to the refurbished Ukiah train station for an evening Redwood Valley Wine Country Excursion (adults only please). As we board the self propelled train car, the friendly conductor takes your ticket and hands you your complimentary wine glass, engraved with the names of the vineyards you are about to choo choo through. The whistle hoots, the bell rings and with an “All aboooooord” the 1930’s style car rolls out north from town, cars stopped by the signals, drivers waving cheerily (or not) as we strop traffic along the way.
In minutes, we pick up sped to a stately 20 mph, passing the fairgrounds on the left, just before scooting under the 101 overpass and out into the vineyards. As our Conductor calls out the sights and regales the revelers with tales of our rich history, the car slows, almost to a stop and the Conductor snags a mail bag off a post at the vineyard we’re passing through. Inside are two bottles selected by the vintners for our consideration, and with a deft twist followed by quiet clinking as glasses are whetted, we sample the first vintage of our tour. As the train picks up speed, passengers compare notes, take another sip (or two) and regard the passing scenery with growing warmth…….
……..Three hours later the train returns to the station. All aboard are very pleased to have been aboard, reluctant to depart, and more grateful for the the handrail when going down the stairs than when going up. Months, even years later, family and friends having returned to their far flung homes, some will be heard to say “Best train trip ever…..Ukiah Funtrain”.

The Mule
In addition to the excursion application, it is possible to think of this public asset as a potential magnet for innovation and event based economic development by also designating this the “Mendocino Ultra-Light Experimental Rail Corridor” or MULE  Line. The premise being that there is substantial local, national and international interest in exploring a broad range of innovative rail based transportation systems, for practical as well as recreational purposes.  Implementation of such a facility would allow engineers, students, artists and innovators of all stripes access to standard gauge rail for the development of their innovations.

Absent any wide ranging practical benefit to society at large emerging from such a venture, there are several examples of unique engineering-based events, such as the Kinetic Sculpture Race in Eureka, which has spawned many offspring events and the Handcar Regatta in Santa Rosa that draw tens of thousands of people on an annual basis to both these nearby communities. With the rolling stock, international profile among rail enthusiasts and operational experience of the Skunk Train and Roots of Motive Power Museum in Willits, we are in the enviable position of association with and proximity to a very persuasive set of models and resources for the development of this very special public resource; miles of rail line through scenic country in serious need of some economic and motivational stimulus. Along side the rail, in addition to wineries, there is a substantial amount of vacant industrial and warehouse space, some of which could find new purpose supporting development activities and as retail space servicing rail, pedestrian and cycling users.

A simple maintenance fix won’t cost much at all, and would be a good summer project for some folks needing work, to just cut back the brush. Now, if there was  a good enough reason (and sufficient funding) to take it further and actually put the track into commission suitable for an excursion train or light-weight experimental vehicles (for example), the information provided in the pages linked to here as NCRA Row Segment 1, NCRA Row Segment 2 & NCRA Row Segment 3 will provide a comprehensive if non-technical documentation of current conditions along this segment of track.

So, again, picture if you will, a summer evening in Ukiah. You and your sweetie are in the mood for some fresh air and exhilaration, so you head on down to the old train station on your bikes. As a group of people hustle aboard the Funtrain excursion car, your rented rail-sail platform is rolled out onto the siding and you strap your bikes into place as the whistle blows and the excursion car leaves the station. There’s a nice fresh 10 knot northwest wind blown, as usual for this time of day, and as the 12′ mast goes aloft the sail pops stiffly into the breeze. You mount the saddles, wait for the traffic barricades to go down, slowly release the brakes and leave the station, sailing (or peddaling if the wind slows down) through the intersection much to the amusement (or not) of the halted drives, as the first of a dozen or so “interestingly” powered vehicles to depart the station this evening……………..
……………..Three hours later, you roll back into town on your bikes, having sailed to Redwood Valley, left the rented platforms there for a more favorable wind, and cycled back to town, stopping on the way to check on the various groups working in warehouses along the to get ready for the now world famous Ukiah Willits MULE Rail Regatta.

Crazy? Sure. Got a better idea? Lay it out in the comments below.

Overall, this is a scenic segment of rail in pretty good physical condition, under continuous use as a de-facto bike path. Any plan for maintenance or upgrade should take this current usage under consideration, particularily in light of the already existing NCRA “Trails on Rails” plan. As a cyclist who has ridden every possible route from Redwood Valley to Ukiah (and Willits for that matter) I can say without reservation that if the rail trail seen in many of the accompanying photos was cleaned up, properly graded and surfaced, it would be the most pleasant, safest and most direct route, a truly practical commuter route as well as a very attractive recreational facility.
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The cost of maintaining and even upgrading the track is far less than the cost of losing it to the forces of time and nature. But I’m sure a lot of other folks will have a lot of other good ideas about this little public asset we’ve got here that will go to rack and ruin in a hurry if we don’t at least do the minimal amount of maintenance necessary to keep the jungle off it. Please post your ideas or comments below and get the conversation going. Good idea, bad idea, your idea?

To me it seems logical; rail + wind = someone must have put a sail on a rail cart, and if you did, how much fun would that be? A little Google magic, and, as a late edit to this page, allow me to submit the following in response to the eye rolling the concept of sail-on-rail has evoked;

Francis Works Tramway, Cliffe, Kent
(2ft gauge)

‘The sail-powered trolley used on the Francis Works tramway after it closed; it was run down to the shore at Cliffe to dig worms and inspect the sea defences. Mrs M.Foord’ ‘The Cement Railways of Kent’, B.D. Stoyel & R.W.Kidner, p.64,

“‘An attempt to use wind power was reported in The Cambrian of 18 APril 1807, as follows: An experiment of a novel kind was made on the Oystermouth Tramroad yesterday, to ascertain the practicability of a carriage proceeding to the Mumbles without horse, by the aid of the wind alone. Some Jolly Sons of Neptune rigged a wagon with a long-sail, and the wind blowing strong and as fair as could be wished, set out from our quay, and after clearing the houses dropped anchor at the end of the tramroad in less than three quarters of an hour, having come a distance of about 4 1/2 miles.”

South Gare, Teesside
(‘Standard’ gauge)

‘A sail bogie on the railway at South Gare. (Courtesy Langbaurgh on Tees Museum Service)’ Industrial Railway Record, No.131, p.135

‘…photographer A. Cattani of Redcar’ D.Bayliss, Sheffield Industrial Railway Record, No.131, p.73

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