I worked in an engine service as a fireman later an engineer. In the early 1960s I was a fireman on the freight pool between Klamath Falls and Crescent lake. Back in those days train handling with much more of an art form because every train had a caboose. Controlling slack action we’re serious!
Tom Dill wrote a great book about the Modoc Line, he and my dad worked together when the Modoc was still part of SP, sadly Tom passed away a few years ago.
@@echohunter4199 I know about the book, and I once read it in a railroad library not too long ago and it was awesome to see the steam on the Modoc pictures. That’s unfortunate for Tom sadly, but he may rest in peace.
@@SPNGMalibu18 so true. Imagine what amazing things he saw as a young man growing up along the Modoc, the Cab Forwards and other steam engines must’ve been like watching dinosaurs rumble by! Did you notice that in Merrill, OR along the trackage of the Modoc is a couple tracks of old steam engines? Many of them are still there, last check showed about 5 remaining. I often wonder if they were collected there in hopes of making an excursion line when the OC&E or the Modoc line was abandoned? I remember the long log trains always blocking the road for hours on Altamont Dr., I just pulled my bike under the spine cars but only after checking if the locomotive was disconnected. The flatcars they had were more of a pain to get around. I had high hopes in 94 as they talked about converting the OC&E but they chose to make it a trail. Maybe it wasn’t financially feasible since it was pretty old and bringing it up to a required level for liability insurance was too much.
Great video, thank you. That Dash 8-40-C is a gorgeous piece of equipment. I miss seeing those narrow noses and original Dash 8 cabs. And a working caboose in the 21st century--wow!
I remember visiting my home area and also seeing the equipment parked in Tulelake. Also the classic steam equipment I visited and photographed a few time south of Merrill
Yes, I figured they'd been sitting awhile and maybe were burning some old, skunky fuel. It was good to see the old girls out doing what they do, especially the SD-9, but sad the Modoc Northern couldn't survive. I haven't been back in KF for quite awhile, so am wondering who's serving the industries between Texum and Alturas, including the Lakeview branch.
@@robertlloyd7167 UP local to Alturas, or at least to Perez. Last time I heard I think it is the Lake Railroad on the NCO line to Lakeview. Maybe someone else can clarify that for me?
I grew up in K-Falls as well (On Altamont Drive) and dad worked for SP until 2008 when he retired from UP. There’s a good book about the Modoc Line written by a former SP employee named Tom Dill, he grew up on the Modoc line where his father worked for SP as well and servicing the old Cab Forwards that ran on the Modoc before retiring them completely. The Modoc Line has a unique history that most are unaware of.
I was working for a group of local radio stations at the time and asked for a cab ride. The crew did wonder why a radio guy had a camera but were happy for the DVDs. This was a classic example of shoot it while you can.
@@7ideaproductions Well that worked out really well for ya then! Seriously that is no joke about getting it while you can! I find it amazing this line is still operational at all to this day. It might be interesting to check out again once the Red Rock Biofuel facility in Lakeview is running and moving railcars.
@@TheRailfanDan Yes indeed. I was lucky to capture the pipe trains that UP ran about a year after the Modoc Northern was gone. The 6,000 foot unit trains were something to see.
Thanks Aaron Have you ever been to the Tri-Cities Kingsport, Johnson City, or Bristol in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia You might like to come to the Tri-Cities Region to see downtown Bristol TN and VA the line from Bristol VA goes on to shawsville Up to Christiansburg Mountain The line from Bristol TN Johnson City goes on towards Jonesbourgh, Morristown Bulls Gap Newport on to Knoxville you might check out the Watauga region in the Tri-Cities You will like it
It’s kinda sad honestly how not many railfans know of this railroad. It was an underrated gem when compared to the railroads around it.
Thanks for going back to showcase the Kepner collection at 28:59!
I worked in an engine service as a fireman later an engineer. In the early 1960s I was a fireman on the freight pool between Klamath Falls and Crescent lake. Back in those days train handling with much more of an art form because every train had a caboose. Controlling slack action we’re serious!
Great footage of this very short lived railroad. The Modoc line is probably the least known yet most fascinating of Southern Pacific’s routes
Great video so is this and the line completely abandoned it would be nice if a scenic railroad bought it
I love the modoc line and finding this video was great! SP Cab forwards used to run the line.
Tom Dill wrote a great book about the Modoc Line, he and my dad worked together when the Modoc was still part of SP, sadly Tom passed away a few years ago.
@@echohunter4199 I know about the book, and I once read it in a railroad library not too long ago and it was awesome to see the steam on the Modoc pictures. That’s unfortunate for Tom sadly, but he may rest in peace.
@@SPNGMalibu18 so true. Imagine what amazing things he saw as a young man growing up along the Modoc, the Cab Forwards and other steam engines must’ve been like watching dinosaurs rumble by! Did you notice that in Merrill, OR along the trackage of the Modoc is a couple tracks of old steam engines? Many of them are still there, last check showed about 5 remaining. I often wonder if they were collected there in hopes of making an excursion line when the OC&E or the Modoc line was abandoned? I remember the long log trains always blocking the road for hours on Altamont Dr., I just pulled my bike under the spine cars but only after checking if the locomotive was disconnected. The flatcars they had were more of a pain to get around. I had high hopes in 94 as they talked about converting the OC&E but they chose to make it a trail. Maybe it wasn’t financially feasible since it was pretty old and bringing it up to a required level for liability insurance was too much.
Great video, thank you. That Dash 8-40-C is a gorgeous piece of equipment. I miss seeing those narrow noses and original Dash 8 cabs. And a working caboose in the 21st century--wow!
Absolutely amazing video.
Thank you! Right place at the right time for a railroad that wasn't around for very long.
That was an interesting story. I didn't even know this railroad existed.
Great video…
I remember visiting my home area and also seeing the equipment parked in Tulelake.
Also the classic steam equipment I visited and photographed a few time south of Merrill
Merrill great frosty stand
@@stevenbrooks1243 The Polar Bear. I knew the owner in 60' also the owner in the 70's.
@@stevenbrooks1243 The Polar Bear was at one time owned by our Neighbors across the Street. It then sold to people 2 blocks away.
Thanks. Madeline resident!
Awesome video! Hope to see more
Awesome video from the ground and a ride along segment.
A tragically short life for such an underrated and forgotten shortline
That was a LOT of exhaust smoke! Great video though; I grew up in Klamath Falls and seeing my old stomping grounds was awesome!
Those old GEs hadn't been run out in a while. Either that or they wanted to be ALCO's!
Yes, I figured they'd been sitting awhile and maybe were burning some old, skunky fuel. It was good to see the old girls out doing what they do, especially the SD-9, but sad the Modoc Northern couldn't survive. I haven't been back in KF for quite awhile, so am wondering who's serving the industries between Texum and Alturas, including the Lakeview branch.
@@robertlloyd7167 UP local to Alturas, or at least to Perez. Last time I heard I think it is the Lake Railroad on the NCO line to Lakeview. Maybe someone else can clarify that for me?
@@7ideaproductions, thank you!
I grew up in K-Falls as well (On Altamont Drive) and dad worked for SP until 2008 when he retired from UP. There’s a good book about the Modoc Line written by a former SP employee named Tom Dill, he grew up on the Modoc line where his father worked for SP as well and servicing the old Cab Forwards that ran on the Modoc before retiring them completely. The Modoc Line has a unique history that most are unaware of.
Great video, really enjoyed it!
Great history and show case of how it was 😊. Thanks
Interesting video! Thanks for sharing!
Good Ole Modoc Line
Very cool you captured all this AND got a cab ride as well! I like the SD9 in this scheme too.
I was working for a group of local radio stations at the time and asked for a cab ride. The crew did wonder why a radio guy had a camera but were happy for the DVDs. This was a classic example of shoot it while you can.
@@7ideaproductions Well that worked out really well for ya then! Seriously that is no joke about getting it while you can! I find it amazing this line is still operational at all to this day. It might be interesting to check out again once the Red Rock Biofuel facility in Lakeview is running and moving railcars.
@@TheRailfanDan Yes indeed. I was lucky to capture the pipe trains that UP ran about a year after the Modoc Northern was gone. The 6,000 foot unit trains were something to see.
@@7ideaproductions you're making me jealous now ha! What were the reason for those pipe trains? I'm not sure I heard about those.
Great Video Aaron! I would love to see you do more shortline videos like this (even if you had to combine a couple shortlines on to a single show.
That's wonderful!
Thanks Aaron
Have you ever been to the Tri-Cities Kingsport, Johnson City, or Bristol in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
You might like to come to the Tri-Cities Region to see downtown Bristol TN and VA the line from Bristol VA goes on to shawsville
Up to Christiansburg Mountain
The line from Bristol TN Johnson City goes on towards Jonesbourgh, Morristown Bulls Gap Newport on to Knoxville you might check out the Watauga region in the Tri-Cities
You will like it
Wow... early cabover Pete's and Freightliners
Yes he was quite the collector.
That's wonderful 😊!
Surprised to see an ex-Missabe SD-M with its high hood intact. Chopping the noses was part of the rebuilding process.
Awesome 🚂😎👍
These engines sat in Tulelake a long time with a caboose...
Dang, this is like the shortest-lived tourist line I've ever heard of.
It was an actual freight-hauling railroad; unfortunately, the ups and downs of the economy caused it to kick the bucket. . .
@@ericemmons3040 yep, sure is sad.
The green/yellow color scheme and the “V” on the nose makes it somewhat reminiscent of the older Chinese/Soviet/East European locomotives…
It looks like Sierra Railroad #18 is one of the steam locomotives in the derelict track; would be nice to see that one restored. . .
it is being restored.
@@Tank245 Do you have any further information about that?
As far as i could find out, the locomotive aswell as everything else there was sold to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.@@ericemmons3040
No one is better at making rail videos.
Good show, too bad that shortline bombed.
Now I'm kind of cure is that railroad still exist or hasn't been taking over our abandoned abandoned once
👍👍👍
Thanks Aaron, What will be the next release on disc?
Stay tuned! We have projects in the works.
Hey Aaron Are you railfaning next to the Midwest say like the Chillicothe sub
Thanks for the suggestion!
@@7ideaproductions you’re welcome 🙂
😊
Like always bad news at the end for every short railroad especially in california!😠
Why did it fold? Not enough business?
Why not use your engine.?!!!?