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| Don Blansett says his new railroad, Modoc Northern, can help stimulate the development of additional agricultural markets. |
Lee Juillerat
Freelance Writer
January
13, 2006
TULELAKE, Calif. – Agricultural items are among
products being hauled in
increasing volumes between Alturas, Calif., and Klamath Falls, Ore., by the
new Modoc Northern Railroad. It took over operations from Union Pacific on
104
miles of tracks Nov. 1.
“We should be doubling the car loading in the first 18 months,” said Don
Blansett,
who is overseeing the startup for Modoc Northern, a subsidiary of Utah Central
Railway
based in Ogden, Utah.
Blansett said Modoc Northern hauls agricultural, lumber and mining products
from
Lake County in Oregon and Modoc and Siskiyou counties in far Northern California
to Klamath Falls for distribution to larger railroads. The rail line is based in Tulelake,
the
first time the city has had on-ground rail operations since 1974.
“We think we have a long-term viability here,” Blansett said. “We see
agriculture as
still
an ongoing business.”
So far, Winema Elevators and Basin Fertilizer are the railroad’s largest
Tulelake-area customers; others include Wong Potatoes Inc. and Cal-Ore
Potatoes.
“They’ve demonstrated the right kind of attitude that’s good for the
community and for
my
company,” said Chris Kandra of Winema Elevators.
Kandra said Modoc Northern owners were the best of several interested in
taking over the line. “So far, I think we’ve got the pick of the
litter.”
Modoc Northern is also drawing favorable reviews from Ray Simms, who
oversees the 55-mile-long Lake County Railroad, which runs from Lakeview to
Alturas.
Simms said November was the second-best month since the county bought the
shortline to Alturas in 1997. Lake County shipped 126 cars in November, and
he credits some of the increase with the availability of rail cars and
optimism created by Modoc Northern’s new owners.
Blansett, Utah Central’s general superintendent, said the railroad studied
the Alturas-Klamath Falls link starting in 2003. The strong early start, he
said, verifies predictions that improved service would expand rail shipping
and develop economic development opportunities.
“Our success directly relates to the viability of the communities we
serve. That’s our key to the future,” Blansett said.
Unlike Union Pacific, which operates on a large scale, Blansett said, Utah
Central works best in local markets.
“What we’re able to do is pick up a block of cars and move them, so
we’re able to provide local service that fits the customer’s needs.
We’re also an economic development tool. We have the ability to market,
and we have the ability to site new industry.”
Blansett said Modoc Northern is actively seeking new or expanded business
from horseradish and potato growers. He also believes the railroad can bring
in new industries, with possibilities including pork and frozen food
processing companies.
“We see opportunities here, especially to serve the Southern California
market. I think it’s just a matter of time.”
Blansett said Modoc Northern will offer small packaging service among
Klamath Falls, Tulelake and Alturas. Limited passenger service is also
envisioned.
“There’s not really a market for a recreational railroad,” he said.
“But we will offer
passenger
service. We’ll be able to accommodate that.”
He said efforts are ongoing to improve rail crossings and to remove weeds
and garbage from the Tulelake area and alongside tracks.
“We’ve got to sell not only to our local customers but (also) to people
who might come here someday.”
Trains travel between Tulelake and Klamath Falls Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, and between Alturas and Tulelake Tuesdays and Thursdays and, if
needed, Saturdays.
The Alturas depot connects with the Lake County Railroad, which hauls
perlite and timber products from Lakeview.
Blansett said the community had two concerns, noise from parked locomotives
and too easily activitated crossing signals. The railroad will soon add a
caboose for practical reasons and to handle safety issues. Track will be
reinstalled to service yards in Tulelake.
“We’ll see longer trains rolling through town,” Blansett said.