I was googling the NWP a while back and came upon a newspaper story about a study to determine the posibility of dredging Humboldt Bay to allow container ships then shipping the containers via the NWP to interchange points to the UP or BNSF. When I first read this story, I was thinking what it would cost to rebuild the railroad and how much to keep it open year around. With the technology today, I believe they could keep the railroad open year around and preserve the environment too. We need more capacity for rail and shipping. Adding the NWP to the mix would be wonderful. Another safe harbor like Humboldt bay would take the pressure off of Long Beach and Oakland.
Speaking of the NWP, what sort of shape is it in right now?
As a lumber-hauler, it’s been very important to the economy of the northern California coast, but, at least since the nasty floods of 1964-65, it’s repeatedly been a black hole for repair money.
Hasn’t been running since 98 or 99 their are some pretty large trees starting to grow between the rails at some points. Humboldt County is always trying to resurrect the NWP with some hair brained scheme or another every few years at the expense of the rest of the California taxpayers. I think it is probably due to those funny mushrooms they use up there.
I was just recently up their and can assure you it is not practicle or affordable to reopen the NWP.