My family used to travel to the southern Oregon coast into Northern California back in the late 60’s. I recall the Skunk Line Train as my older brother loved trains. I think they used to have seats in that car waaaaay back in 1967/68. I was just a toddler but my mom took photos from those vacations. Thanks for bringing back some old memories Justin!
I love Historic road side attractions and any other history as well!!!Also speaking of Route 66 that is my favorite road in America I love evrything on the mother road!!!!
How totally fun was this video. Been thru Willits many a time, but never rode the train. I volunteer at the Old Sacramento Train Museum and on their tourist train. Wish I could bring along my guitar and sing railroad songs for the tourists as this lucky Skunk Train volunteer gets too.
Several years ago while visiting friends in Fort Bragg, we took the Skunk train round trip up to Willetts & back... & were serenaded by the locally famous Train Singer. What a character! It was a wonderful time!
Great to see the Skunk Train again. Coming from Germany chances are slim to ride it hehe. My uncle lives in SanFrancisco and when my older brother went to visit him in the midd 90s, he rode the Skunk Train and brought back tons of VHS footage, fotos and postcards. Manly for me because as a kid I was a huge train geek. Well, in 2000 I also went to visit my uncle with my brother and sister but didn't make it to the train ... BUT 13 years later I went back to California to visit my uncle, check out the comic con in San Diego as a comic artist guest AND finally got on the Skunk Train! Sadly the first tunnel was under construction and so it was a very short trip... but still loved every minute of it and riding in those old coaches. I really hope to return one day and ride the whole line. It was great to see what comes after the tunnel XD ... Soon thanks again and greetings from Germany!
I want to see the Redwoods some day, but this reminds me that most of us have interesting unseen things in our area. If we just took different roads to travel, then we might just see some hidden gems😊
Fun video and I love the history. In the 60s and 70s our family vacations were 'road trips' and I remember passing through Willets. Don't remember much, I was pretty young.
Automobiles with train wheels that are called auto draisines or speeders. Some of them retain their normal wheels and tires so that they can still be driven on the road, with rail wheels that flip up when not in use (these are simply known as road-rail vehicles) As you’d probably expect, they’re used by rail crew for transportation between maintenance jobs. Most modern draisines are pickups with the flippable wheels , but in the past, they’ve ranged from vans like that one to large sedans. VW Type 2s were common in post-war Europe (West Germany used them throughout their state-owned line), and I believe there was also a line in New York that used one.
I was born and raised on the other end of the Skunk Train line. Best of times in Fort Bragg Ca. as a kid, just a few blocks away from my house was the station. They had two trains running at that time. One was for the regular passengers, the other was running lumber from the GP mill to Willits. I can still hear the steam engine in my head to this day.
OK, it’s decided ! Your video has inspired me to take the same trip as you . You see, as a child, I also toured up in the redwoods with my family and camped . 63 years old now and I’ve been wanting to go back and redo that experience and your video has inspired me to do it, and has shown me where all the old places are . Thank you!
Justin - we moved to Ukiah three years ago and LOVE living here and visiting Willits. My wife has Celiac so we've discovered many excellent GF places to eat. If you're still around we'd love to treat you to lunch. Also, if you can make it up to Willits September 7-8, you can see the Roots of Motive Power Steam Day. We did it two years ago and made carved linoleum prints pressed by a real STEAM ROLLER! Come check it out!
Thanks for doing my hometown proud and there is a direct connection between your name and our town Hiram Willits started the town of willitsville near the lark motel. Around here we call old residents woolites. As for most of old signs are in the museums possession. The train singer was a substitute teacher of middle school dreams his name is Greg Schindel he's been at it for 20 plus years.
I just wanted to stop by to say I appreciate all of your videos, Disney or not (this one especially because we love trains). Your perspective and enthusiasm is unmatched by anyone else on RUclips. I appreciate your efforts to share beautiful and historical experiences with us!! Much love and respect to you! ❤️
It was so cool to meet you at our little willits Safeway I hope to maybe meet you and ally sorryvif u spelled it wrong, and get a picture with you guys .
That was another great video your so informative more than any,one else on RUclips, Keep up the good work your the best.,,,, hello to your son and alley, Garygary
Idk if your read this but I’m born in raise in willits and I randomly stumbled on this at 4am and btw I’m a Senior at willits high school, and I’m blown away how you know so much about willits and also my dad works at browns corner and he been there for 14 years and I’m sad to say the owner mr. Brown died a few years ago but ms. Brown is still alive and she is amazing. But have a great day
My family and I live in Ukiah. My in laws are in Laytinville. We ride the Skunk Train every Christmas. Very fun. You should come back Justin and ride the train during the holidays. They have tons of treats and surprises for the kids
We took the Skunk Train years ago….it stopped and had a bar b que mid trip….also, the conductor played the banjo and entertained the passengers in the open car! It was great, and a terrific experience. Seems now….just the train ride.
Justin , this video is some of your best work yet ! And the singing conductor dude was awesome, hope you got his name.. You killed me with the spider man bit.....brilliant... Thanks
Oh my gosh when I was a wee lad we would come up to the Redwoods (from LA) and some of my favorite memories are of riding the Skunk Train out of Willits and such. Today I drove the 101 from Leggett to Ukiah and pointed out the cool former hot spots from your video about this journey to my wife. These videos are terrific! Thank you so much.
Hi Justin just wanted to give you some information on the van that you saw with the railroad wheels on it. Those are called hi-rails. They're used for track inspection and also track work and to bring people and supplies to the work area.The earlier Hi-rails were manual mechanism to raise and lower the rail road wheels but now with modern technology now they're electro-hydraulic or run off a hydraulic pump that is mounted to either the vehicles transmission or belt driven off the vehicles engine. Keep up the great work and keep those great videos rolling!
Automobiles with train wheels ar called Roadrailers or Hi-rails. They are put on at a crossing or somewhere the pavement is above the rail. The steel wheels lower and lift the front tires off the rail. The vehicle is is moved down the track with the rubber tires on the drive axle of the vehicle.
Love the time lapse and the railroad, btw you've got to come to Charleston south Carolina because they have a ww2 aircraft carrier and the first combat submarine... The H.L. Hunley
OMG the anxiety on your outtro😬😬😬 All I could picture was a car whipping around that corner and not seeing those pigs! Aaaaand those were good size pigs, that would’ve been a mess! The ‘Q’ for ‘P’ my brother, I love happy endings!
This weekend and next weekend they have a steam train excursion from Chattanooga TN over to another town and back. It's an 8 hour trip with a 2 hour overlay for lunch /shopping. We've also done the Southeastern Railroad trip in Northeast Georgia. It's a similar trip. Fun to ride the railroad for day trips. Thanks for sharing.
Ahhhh, Justin! You read my mind, my friend! I think I love trains almost as much as Dr. Sheldon Cooper. It's such a pleasure to take even a virtual journey on them, and see the journey in a similar manner to decades of travelers. And having been through the Redwood country only once, it holds a special place in my heart. And please keep sharing the history of these places, too. It's stunning to see how these places change... and how much remains the same. All the very best to Ally, London and assorted kitty-kitties, as well as to you!
Squirrels and Foamers Galore!!!,.....I love the detail in these video trips you make,.... ( I would hit my hand with a little bleach after that dark ride tunnel episode)
I'm from Willits. Lived here most my life I love your vids. Thank you for visiting us not sure if you know this but there was an airstrip where the library and museum are now
Visiting a town with the same name as yours must make it seem just a little like a second home. I’m going to have to see if there’s a town that matches my last name and see for myself. 😃 Great video! Thanks Justin.👍🏼🤘🏼😎
![California Western - Days of Steam on the Skunk Train 8/10/24 [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UBcfIX_a2Xo/mqdefault.jpg)
I have been to Willits back in the early 90s. I remember seeing the skink train go by. I was also in Mendocino too.
Greetings from Cloverdale, just been on the Skunk train once a long time ago. Thanks for the tour.
My family used to travel to the southern Oregon coast into Northern California back in the late 60’s. I recall the Skunk Line Train as my older brother loved trains. I think they used to have seats in that car waaaaay back in 1967/68. I was just a toddler but my mom took photos from those vacations. Thanks for bringing back some old memories Justin!
I really enjoy how you line up with the old photos. Thats my fav part. I love the old history scenes of bygone days.
I live in willits it's cool watching this knowing this stuff while I drive by it almost every day
I love Historic road side attractions and any other history as well!!!Also speaking of Route 66 that is my favorite road in America I love evrything on the mother road!!!!
These places are so rich in history.
Now that's a taste of America that I wouldn't have known about without you Justin. Thanks for sharing!
How totally fun was this video. Been thru Willits many a time, but never rode the train. I volunteer at the Old Sacramento Train Museum and on their tourist train. Wish I could bring along my guitar and sing railroad songs for the tourists as this lucky Skunk Train volunteer gets too.
I was on the train when I was 6 with my dad and sister and loved it I still have pictures of it thanks for bringing back good memories of it
Several years ago while visiting friends in Fort Bragg, we took the Skunk train round trip up to Willetts & back... & were serenaded by the locally famous Train Singer. What a character! It was a wonderful time!
That skunk train trip looks awesome! I love that train musician! 🚂🌳🎯
Great to see the Skunk Train again. Coming from Germany chances are slim to ride it hehe. My uncle lives in SanFrancisco and when my older brother went to visit him in the midd 90s, he rode the Skunk Train and brought back tons of VHS footage, fotos and postcards. Manly for me because as a kid I was a huge train geek. Well, in 2000 I also went to visit my uncle with my brother and sister but didn't make it to the train ... BUT 13 years later I went back to California to visit my uncle, check out the comic con in San Diego as a comic artist guest AND finally got on the Skunk Train! Sadly the first tunnel was under construction and so it was a very short trip... but still loved every minute of it and riding in those old coaches. I really hope to return one day and ride the whole line. It was great to see what comes after the tunnel XD ... Soon thanks again and greetings from Germany!
Wish I could do this. Traveling around to see cool stuff. Keep it up!
That conductor is a real virtuoso and what a great voice.
Outstanding
I want to see the Redwoods some day, but this reminds me that most of us have interesting unseen things in our area. If we just took different roads to travel, then we might just see some hidden gems😊
Fun video and I love the history. In the 60s and 70s our family vacations were 'road trips' and I remember passing through Willets. Don't remember much, I was pretty young.
Automobiles with train wheels that are called auto draisines or speeders. Some of them retain their normal wheels and tires so that they can still be driven on the road, with rail wheels that flip up when not in use (these are simply known as road-rail vehicles) As you’d probably expect, they’re used by rail crew for transportation between maintenance jobs. Most modern draisines are pickups with the flippable wheels , but in the past, they’ve ranged from vans like that one to large sedans. VW Type 2s were common in post-war Europe (West Germany used them throughout their state-owned line), and I believe there was also a line in New York that used one.
Been there done that as a kid as well. My parents were not impressed but looking back a happy meomory. Perhaps I will go back to Willits💨🙆🙋
Cool! Enjoying your journeys. Thanks
Justin Scarred,... You're a real piece of work, my Man. Keep up the good work !
I was born and raised on the other end of the Skunk Train line. Best of times in Fort Bragg Ca. as a kid, just a few blocks away from my house was the station. They had two trains running at that time. One was for the regular passengers, the other was running lumber from the GP mill to Willits. I can still hear the steam engine in my head to this day.
OK, it’s decided !
Your video has inspired me to take the same trip as you .
You see, as a child, I also toured up in the redwoods with my family and camped .
63 years old now and I’ve been wanting to go back and redo that experience and your video has inspired me to do it, and has shown me where all the old places are .
Thank you!
Justin - we moved to Ukiah three years ago and LOVE living here and visiting Willits. My wife has Celiac so we've discovered many excellent GF places to eat. If you're still around we'd love to treat you to lunch. Also, if you can make it up to Willits September 7-8, you can see the Roots of Motive Power Steam Day. We did it two years ago and made carved linoleum prints pressed by a real STEAM ROLLER! Come check it out!
The Quest for Positivity that has helped me a lot. Positivity is way to go! Thank you the Videos Justin!
Love watching you geek out like this bro! Great content. Came for the Disneyland, stayed for the enthusiasm.
Love the skunk railroad I remember it from when I was a kid that was the best trip down memory lane. Thanks Justin.
Loved that!!! The flute made it extra awesome 😀😀
I road the gas power coach's when I was a kid from Fort Bargg to Willets on vacation, thanks for a trip down memory lane.
I never heard of Willits, until I saw this video. Great job on a tour of this town & the train ride.
Thanks for doing my hometown proud and there is a direct connection between your name and our town Hiram Willits started the town of willitsville near the lark motel. Around here we call old residents woolites. As for most of old signs are in the museums possession. The train singer was a substitute teacher of middle school dreams his name is Greg Schindel he's been at it for 20 plus years.
the train ride looks fun I would love to come to willits and check it out.
I just wanted to stop by to say I appreciate all of your videos, Disney or not (this one especially because we love trains). Your perspective and enthusiasm is unmatched by anyone else on RUclips. I appreciate your efforts to share beautiful and historical experiences with us!! Much love and respect to you! ❤️
THATS it - im going to Willits and riding that train!! Thanks for the tip Justin!!
That would be so fun!
It was so cool to meet you at our little willits Safeway I hope to maybe meet you and ally sorryvif u spelled it wrong, and get a picture with you guys .
Doobie Brothers wrote a great song about Ukiah called, you guessed it, Ukiah. Check it out, really captures the mood of the area.
Great video! Very historic!
Very well done. The old photos and history really was impressive.
Hey, we stayed in that room at the Redwood Motel! Now we're famous! I saw it on TV, Martha!
Thanks for the quick history, and nice train ride!! So many things to see....
Bro... I love what your doing. You do exactly what I wonder when I drive through a town. Keep doing what your doing
That was another great video your so informative more than any,one else on RUclips, Keep up the good work your the best.,,,, hello to your son and alley, Garygary
Your ad-libbed pig song brought me much joy.
Very nice! Another great adventure, thanks Justin and shleeeeeeep well!
another fantastic train video! Thanks Justin!
Idk if your read this but I’m born in raise in willits and I randomly stumbled on this at 4am and btw I’m a Senior at willits high school, and I’m blown away how you know so much about willits and also my dad works at browns corner and he been there for 14 years and I’m sad to say the owner mr. Brown died a few years ago but ms. Brown is still alive and she is amazing. But have a great day
My family and I live in Ukiah. My in laws are in Laytinville. We ride the Skunk Train every Christmas. Very fun. You should come back Justin and ride the train during the holidays. They have tons of treats and surprises for the kids
Happy to see you back on the road again!
We took the Skunk Train years ago….it stopped and had a bar b que mid trip….also, the conductor played the banjo and entertained the passengers in the open car! It was great, and a terrific experience. Seems now….just the train ride.
I remember when I rode a train like this when I was little. That brings back good memories. Great vid!
That is so cool you found an old town on the redwood hyw with your last name. Btw...what an amazing adventure!
Interesting to learn your last name is Willits. Love old Redwood Highway historic attractions!
Great video!
I stopped by to comment on nice train video, but, now I'm stuck singing the two pigs song. Thanks Justin Q4P!
It's taking a little longer to get your videos, but once they're out, they're amazing. And worth the wait. Great information.
I love the open road and am living the experience vicariously through you.
Love trains! Especially those old EMD diesel electric switching locomotives! Nice. Thanks for sharing the trains! 2 hour ride! Lucky you.
wow nothing like a train
Justin , this video is some of your best work yet ! And the singing conductor dude was awesome, hope you got his name..
You killed me with the spider man bit.....brilliant...
Thanks
GREAT vlog Justin....I appreciate all the work you do for your content. Keep it up.
Oh my gosh when I was a wee lad we would come up to the Redwoods (from LA) and some of my favorite memories are of riding the Skunk Train out of Willits and such.
Today I drove the 101 from Leggett to Ukiah and pointed out the cool former hot spots from your video about this journey to my wife. These videos are terrific! Thank you so much.
Very cool video!! :) Thanks, Justin. You're the best host in the ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooold wwweest.
Hi Justin just wanted to give you some information on the van that you saw with the railroad wheels on it. Those are called hi-rails. They're used for track inspection and also track work and to bring people and supplies to the work area.The earlier Hi-rails were manual mechanism to raise and lower the rail road wheels but now with modern technology now they're electro-hydraulic or run off a hydraulic pump that is mounted to either the vehicles transmission or belt driven off the vehicles engine. Keep up the great work and keep those great videos rolling!
awesome video justinscarred Willits,California also has Mendocino County Museum & Roots of Motive Power
Loved the whole vlog, but especially the two pigs at the end!
Automobiles with train wheels ar called Roadrailers or Hi-rails. They are put on at a crossing or somewhere the pavement is above the rail. The steel wheels lower and lift the front tires off the rail. The vehicle is is moved down the track with the rubber tires on the drive axle of the vehicle.
I always wanted to do that train ride someday maybe thanks for taking me there Justin !
Love the time lapse and the railroad, btw you've got to come to Charleston south Carolina because they have a ww2 aircraft carrier and the first combat submarine... The H.L. Hunley
OMG the anxiety on your outtro😬😬😬 All I could picture was a car whipping around that corner and not seeing those pigs! Aaaaand those were good size pigs, that would’ve been a mess! The ‘Q’ for ‘P’ my brother, I love happy endings!
Another epic adventure! Thank-you for sharing Justin!
Thanks Justin! Makes me want to take the family out there from Georgia ❤️
Another mighty fine adventure! Definitely a place I like to visit some day-
Thanks for sharing I really want to go there now
That was pretty interesting.
This weekend and next weekend they have a steam train excursion from Chattanooga TN over to another town and back. It's an 8 hour trip with a 2 hour overlay for lunch /shopping. We've also done the Southeastern Railroad trip in Northeast Georgia. It's a similar trip. Fun to ride the railroad for day trips. Thanks for sharing.
Really great job - I love your adventures....
A train through the woods? Heck yeah!
Ahhhh, Justin! You read my mind, my friend! I think I love trains almost as much as Dr. Sheldon Cooper. It's such a pleasure to take even a virtual journey on them, and see the journey in a similar manner to decades of travelers. And having been through the Redwood country only once, it holds a special place in my heart. And please keep sharing the history of these places, too. It's stunning to see how these places change... and how much remains the same.
All the very best to Ally, London and assorted kitty-kitties, as well as to you!
Great vlog! Thanks for the history lesson and the train looked cool and the ride was fun to watch!
Seeing that pick of the lemon reminds me there is a giant lemon in San Diego in a small community called... Lemon Grove!
awesome trip thanks very much Im a rail fan also.
Most train rides we went onto are a lot more shorter than this one. Looks like fun! :D
I'll never get to take adventures like these - thanks for bringing us along
Wow, you really love the redwoods!
Well done as usual.
Squirrels and Foamers Galore!!!,.....I love the detail in these video trips you make,....
( I would hit my hand with a little bleach after that dark ride tunnel episode)
I'm from Willits. Lived here most my life I love your vids. Thank you for visiting us not sure if you know this but there was an airstrip where the library and museum are now
Love the little ditty about the pigs.🐷🐷
Loved this. Especially seeing the old comparison photos. Well done on all the research. Great vlog x
I remember the skunk train when I was a kid.
Visiting a town with the same name as yours must make it seem just a little like a second home. I’m going to have to see if there’s a town that matches my last name and see for myself. 😃 Great video! Thanks Justin.👍🏼🤘🏼😎
You did a good job on the Skunk Train. It's a great train ride.
Another great video! Thanks!
Did you know the Willits sign was the original Reno arch? The city of Reno donated it when they gave their sign another redesign
Yet another great vid Justin! Can't believe you got a Woo spotting there!!
Fantastic video as usual. Thanks for my Saturday 'armchair' vacation.
Great video, as always Justin! Keep doing what you do!
Awesomeness as always brother! Thanks for the Route 66 mentions. Your the best. Hope to meet you one day.