West Side Lumber Co - review and support

[slugsmasher]

Since the old forum is dead, I'll bring this out again for your viewing pleasure and to ask for support in preserving this historic logging railroad. According to the www.wsrestoration.com website, the WSLC site at Tuolumne California is being slated to become a golf course and casino area as per the MiWok Indian tribe who owns the land that the WSLC once ran. There is a digital petition on the website that I encourage all narrow gauge logging enthusiasts to sign. The petition is to support the proposal to preserve what is still in existance of the WSLC, build a museum and possibly open up some of the old mainline for an excursion railroad. It would be sad to see all this fantastic history fade away when there are many fans of this unique railroad. Once annually there is still a narrow gauge logging convention held at Tuolumne in honor of the WSLC and many enthusiasts from all over the country participate in this highly entertaining modelers convention. Let's show our support and sign the petition, thanks.

sign in here
www.wsrestoration.com


p.s. thanks to "trainzfreak202" in reminding me about the restoration of the WSLC.

ok here are some pictures of the WSLC prototype route I have been working on although not actively at the moment. Once complete it will be the only complete prototype based DEM narrow gauge in existance. So if you wanted to know what it was like to operate on the WSLC, this route is an exact duplicate of the route from Tuolumne all the way to Camp 45.

Please don't ask me when I will finish it, this is a multi-year project started in 2003 and honestly, I don't know.

enjoy.

 

[rick1958]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for sharing your great shots. I for one can't wait to see this completed. It looks awesome. After seeing the video, and reading the books, you've captured the WS perfectly.

 

[Forest_Runner]

.....the WSLC site at Tuolumne California is being slated to become a golf course and casino area

+1 for support & petition.

Don't get me wrong....I'm all for progress and advancement but I believe history is important too, therefore a balance needs to be maintained.

Beautiful looking route, Rich. Absolutely Beautiful.

Cheers,
Simon

 

[ZapperJet]

Very nice Rich, I have signed my name for the WSLC.

Cheers,
John

 

[perry_weekley]

My name is on there! Gosh i agree with Forest Runner There needs to be a balence. This is history that needs to be preserved not torn down for a casino

 

[ZapperJet]

My name is on there! Gosh i agree with Forest Runner There needs to be a balence. This is history that needs to be preserved not torn down for a casino

I agree with Forest Runner as well. Which is more important: a historical railroad that is our only insight into the past, or a casino for gambling away all your money?

Cheers,
John

 

[rick1958]

Unfortunately, time and progress can't be stopped

The same mighty locomotives that used to pull tons of lumber up and down 5% grades have been reduced to pulling camera tote'n tourists around a short loop.

To me, this is like turning a retired prize race horse into a carnival kids ride but considering the other options, it's the best that can be hoped for.

I would like to encourage everyone reading this to sign the partition.

 

[ZapperJet]

Some people wanted to do the same to the Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The railway is a short western recreation loop, and it's home to at least one Ex-WP&Y locomotive. The locals wanted to take it down to build on the spot because their lease was almost up. I haven't heard anything since but I know it's still up and running.

Cheers,
John

P.S., One thing is for sure, we'll always have the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, WV. I don't think they could tear down the worlds largest shay collection (home to the worlds largest and last shay aswell)

 

[Klinger]

Everyone needs to sign that

"Such a historic Railraod should be preserved, not turned into a golf course. there are plenty of golf corses already, we dont need another one We need to preserve such sites for future generations, beyond mine even, so that they can tough history as well"

thats my reason behind signing, besides the fact that we need another railroad

 

[redline41190]

my name should be up there too... this is too important to loose. So many of our "heritage" lines have been torn up for scrap or development. we really should be doing what the UK is doing and preserving our "little" railways

LONG LIVE AMERICAN STEAM!

-Jeremy

 

[rick1958]

Now we need to start a partition to get the virtual WS open for business...Count me in

 

[redline41190]

Now we need to start a partition to get the virtual WS open for business...Count me in

i'll help too