Filed under: Eureka, Humboldt, Railroad, THA | Tags: Fort Humboldt, Humboldt, Steam Locomotive
Due to the closure Fort Humboldt this will be the last Donkey Days. However steam-ups of the locomotives will be held once a month as per usual summer schedule. Last Day the park will be open is July 31st. What park officials do not want you to know is they want to move all artifacts they own to Del Norte county. Even the locomotive and other stuff donated with the stipulation they remain in Humboldt County.
PS thanks to Times-Standard for completely missing this closure in their last article on our parks closing.
Filed under: Arcata, bicycle, Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, North Coast Railroad, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, THA, trails | Tags: NCJ, Not Online
Somehow my, and another letter about the rail failed to appear online at the North Coast Journal.
Rees Hughes makes a mistake by assuming all rail travel is more expensive than trails in the “A Walk on the Wild Side.” The problem is a matter of the weight of the rail travel exerting forces on the track. Speeders, hand cars, and rail-cycles do not weigh as much as a train. They are not classified by the Federal Railroad Administration as a train. All of these can run on the rail as it is today with the only exception is a little clearing of trees. The Arcata & Mad River Speeder Crewcar has traveled from the Arcata Marsh to the last crossing North of Eureka. Those washouts are minor, and I have lawfully walked that path, because of volunteering with the Timber Heritage Association. The costs are only that of clearing and inspection of the track. The reason that side is not regularly used is political, not physical. The mistake is assuming costs are all the same. So minimal costs versus millions of dollars to make the trail. The speeder clearly is the lowest cost version.
Another mistake is the thinking the speeder crewcar/hand cars would not attract many people. Already thousands of people have ridden the speeder on trips given by the Timber Heritage Association. Many of those people are from out of the area, enhancing the local economy. Last year twelve thousand people showed up for the annual one event called the Handcar Regretta, at the Santa Rosa Depot. I would describe that event as a Steam Punk sculpture race on the rails. Rail based transport is hugely popular.
Might I suggest we do a serious look at rail based passenger transport? I suggest we look at DMUs SMART will be using in Sonoma and Marin counties.
A part of democracy is the citizens right to Speak against government however, whenever, they want. You Mr Wilson are a leader of the commissioners, are directly responsible for the these lease terms. Do not be angry at citizens for exercising their right. Nor should you be angry at a group because a member decides to directly exercise their rights. Elected officials are supposed to be servants of the public, not rulers over them.
I do not like many of the new terms stated for the new lease. In fact, I think some of them directly infringe on my right to free speech.
By the new terms, there is prohibitions on Timber Heritage Association advertising various things. Do not dare to think you can restrict what I say one iota. I will be sending a email to EFF for legal advice on what I view as a restriction on my free speech.
The new terms say THA isn’t allowed to call the museum site a museum. That THA is prohibited from advertising that the Falk is in the roundhouse once it is moved to the spot the A&MR speeder was. For those who don’t know, the speeder is the small bright orange thing in the header photo of my blog. THA is not allowed to advertise the days the site is open to the public.
THA is not allowed to have members of the public park on the grounds. This was done in the past to allow the disabled and elderly a chance to see the site. Instead they have to walk over uneven ground for a good distance. That ground is not allowed to be improved. Those people will not have the opportunity to visit the artifacts if this is kept.
This site needs to be an unencumbered museum as soon as possible.
This is my blog. These are my opinions. I will not be silenced. I have the right to speak against government actions that I think is unfair. I do not have to speak through a representative to talk to you even if I am part of that group. This is what we call freedom of speech. This is afforded to each and every person within your district.
It seems I have angered you. Good. I am angered by what should be a quick and easy lease process. Although I know this by hearing this second in a third hand sort of way.
People needed to know your rantings of how it isn’t a museum but a storage site. People needed to know about difficulties.
I finally saw a notice today on the fence about replacing it. I’m guessing next year, there will actually be a new fence.
People need to understand, you are threatening to kick out Timber Heritage Association. That is why you required THA to get a MOU from NCRA about storing the locomotives on the mainline.
I expect better out of my government. The fact is THA has saved these buildings. This is the best use of these buildings. This property needs to be given to THA. Barring that, THA needs an unencumbered long term lease to operate as a museum.
Time has come to move Timber Heritage Association artifacts out of fields landing. The land has been sold. It has been nice to be able to store the stuff there. THA needs about two acres of land to store it on by 1 Jan 2012 or it looks to be scrapped. Plus equipment to haul the big stuff.
For those following along the THA happenings. You are probably wondering why not take it to the Samoa site THA currently has. The answer is The Harbor District’s position is it is a limited storage place, not a museum. Any changes such as new security cameras, or outside artifacts must be approved after long negations and many stipulations. Negations have broken down.
The history of the site was lumber mill and railroad related buildings from the 1890′s. Along the way the site was donated to the Harbor District and the Redwood Dock study stated the best use of the property was Timber Heritage Museum. The buildings have gone from being severely neglected with rain pouring through the roofs to new roofs with rotted wood being replaced. One roof was collapsed. It is nice having skilled workers to see such projects. Those fixing up projects are in Lou of payment for a year to year lease. Though the actual price is above normal industrial sites. Though there is no water or real bathrooms yet.
Worse yet, the Harbor District has failed to yet to do normal landlord duties such as fixing the fence that allowed people to vandalize artifacts and other equipment. The Harbor District has yet to do any site survey for residue toxics such as from fuel tanks on site or dioxin. Do they not care about the environment? The Harbor District does have insurance on the property to do the clean up.
THA needs to be given the property to operate as a museum to generate revenue for both THA and the local economy. Once the property is THA’s hands for the long term, they can seek grants to further fix the site, artifacts, and equipment. This is a simple way to generate jobs. At one time the commissioners were talking of giving the property.
Timber Heritage Museum needs people to call and email the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District expressing support. 707-443-0801, fax 707-443-0800.
As always this is my opinion. This is my blog.
With Fort Humboldt State park on the closure list, concerns arose of what was going to happen to the logging artifacts and locomotives. While the rest is unknown, the City of Eureka donated the Falk locomotive to the THA at tonight’s council meeting.
Filed under: Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, THA
Last speeder rides of the season put on by Timber Heritage Association are today from 9am to 4pm. Excluding lunch hour. Boarding area is in front of the Samoa Cookhouse. Fun little ride!
Filed under: Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, THA
Timber Heritage Association will be operating the two crew cars along 1st Street from F Street to the Adorni Center and back on Monday 4 July 2011, from 10 to 5.
”It’s very frustrating,” Mueller said, adding that in order to dole out grant money, agencies must be certain that the money will end up funding restoration costs, something the museum can’t guarantee without control of the land. In the meantime, the group will continue to get ready for the first speeder car rides, which will run the fourth Saturday of every month starting in June.
”Once we get ownership, we’ll be able to get our security hammered out,” said Mueller, chief mechanic for the speeder car. “It’s an uphill battle, but I see it as doable.”
Filed under: Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, THA
Looks to be an enjoyable short, frequent runs. Thanks to the organizers of the Jazz Festival to helping, and allowing this to happen.
If things go well, I should have my radio sending out APRS messages with the steam engine on Ham Freq so aprs.fi can track it. http://aprs.fi/?call=DW2246&z=16&others=1 is a live APRS map of the Jazz Festival.
Update/Further Info: It ran for passengers 10am to 5pm. Amazingly good weather. Poured at loading, and towards the end.
My son cleaning out the flangeways. Wonder if EPIC will sue.
Speeder on rails
Tomorrow, the speeder will be running again. Channel 3 had a nice news story on the Jazz Festival, including the speeder.
