Labor Day
Date: Aug 30th, 2008 12:30:07 am - Subscribe
Mood: vibrant
Already the end of summer is nearing and fall beckons with preludes of cool nights and early sunsets. It's Labor Day weekend and I'm finally getting back in the blogging groove. I'm excited about this winter's adventures to include a chance to sit inside on a comfy chair sipping hot tea, or coffee or cocoa whiling away the hours with my own musings and reflections. Winter is a great time to write.
This summer has been filled with traveling and lots of projects. The traveling is not over yet. A gathering in the Ochoco National Forest for a prayer assembly and work project are on the horizon in two weeks. I truly enjoy those mountains.
There are no trains in the Ochoco Forest as far as I know. However, I could check the history to find out what trains travel in that area. A little train history of Oregon, or the whole nation, would be an exciting winter project.
Coffee is chilling as I sit in Starbucks wondering how I managed to neglect a blog on one of my favorite things: trains!
Soon this train blog will transform before the readers eyes! With one more trip to Willits in my travel plans, I just might get to ride that Skunk Train after all. See you somewhere out there adventuring.
Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!
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Labor Day
Date: Aug 30th, 2008 12:24:13 am - Subscribe
Mood: vibrant
Already the end of summer is nearing and fall beckons with preludes of cool nights and early sunsets. It's Labor Day weekend and I'm finally getting back in the blogging groove. I'm excited about this winter's adventures to include a chance to sit inside on a comfy chair sipping hot tea, or coffee or cocoa whiling away the hours with own musings and reflections. Winter is a great time to write.
This summer has been filled with traveling and lots of projects. The traveling is not over yet. A gathering in the Ochoco National Forest for a prayer assembly and work project are on the horizon in two weeks. I truly enjoy those mountains.
There are no trains in that forest as far as I know. However, I could check the history to find out what trains travel in that area. A little train history of Oregon, or the whole nation, would be an exciting winter project.
Coffee is chilling as I sit in Starbucks wondering how I managed to neglect a blog on one of my favorite things: trains!
Soon this train blog will transform before the readers eyes! With one more trip to Willits in my travel plans, I just might get to ride that Skunk Train after all. See you somewhere out there adventuring.
Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!
Comments: (0)
Skunk Train in Willits, California
Date: Mar 15th, 2008 7:40:10 pm - Subscribe
Mood: charmed
This is a common site for me as I stroll about town in Willits, California. Though I see the train a lot sitting like some old relic horse on the tracks near the renovated train station, I have never ridden the train.
I've often daydreamed about the ride through the majestic Redwoods just outside of town. Willits is the gateway to the redwoods. An archway as you enter the city announces its regal designation.
I hear it is a fascinating, scenic and very enjoyable ride. I definitely have it on my "to do list" in the near future. When I finally do take the skunk train tour, I'll take my camera for some first hand photos. Watch for them on this blog.
My mother in law lives in Willits, a medium sized town nestled at the base of the gateway to the redwoods, just atop the mountain climb from Ukiah, California right on magic Highway 101. It's the kind of town to visit for some old fashiioned scenery and good old fashioned folks. The skunk train is just one of the attractions you will find there.
It would be fitting to put some facts about the Skunk Train on this post
Visit this website for more information:
http://www.trainweb.org/carl/SkunkTrain/SkunkTrainWillits.html
"The "Skunk M 100" is a diesel powered motor car built in 1925. When she makes her run from Fort Bragg to Willits, it is through the Redwood Forest and along the Noyo River. It crosses over 31 bridges and trestles and passes through two of the line's deep mountain tunnels. On this day, from Willits to Northspur and back, we'll see the dryer eastern slope of the mountain range until we reach Tunnel #2 then redwood and fir forests and the 'towns' of Crowley, Clare Mill, and Shake City before arriving at Northspur. "
" At Northspur Station, the first train to arrive awaits the other and luggage, including bicycles, and passengers who are on a through ticket, are transferred and both trains are off to either Fort Bragg, or, like us, back to Willits. Waiting passengers are entertained by either The Train Singer or The Walkin' Blues Man. When the train with the cafe car arrives, any passenger can board and buy food items. The station itself has clothing items and ice cream. A more picturesque station would be hard to imagine."
-above information taken from www.trainweb.org-
This is the famous welcome to Willits that I mentioned earlier:
On behalf of the Willits Chamber of Commerce, welcome to Willits, California!
"Gateway to the Redwoods ~ Heart of Mendocino County."
The people are friendly in Willits, so get out of your vehicle and take a walkabout. It's the perfect town in which to reminisce about those bygone train days.
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Repeating same blog when editing-ooops!
Date: Mar 15th, 2008 7:15:44 pm - Subscribe
Mood: captivated
I apologize folks. I was trying to edit the font size and train photo size when the edit function just kept publishing the same article in duplicates.
Does anyone know how to remove the duplicated pages?
Email the_midnight_writer@mountainspiritproductions.org
Thank you.
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Old Steam Trains
Date: Mar 15th, 2008 7:05:01 pm - Subscribe
Mood: captivated
This takes me way back before my time, to nostalgic thoughts of my great uncle Bill. He was my Grandfather's twin brother on my father's side of the family.
Old Bill drove a train like this one, having been born in 1881. That was another age indeed!
Sometimes I fantasize about those days and wish I had lived then. It all seem so romantic, the good ole days, that is.
Take a look at the architecture, home furnishings, houses and cabins built in the 1800's, and even the trains.
This steam engine has style that cannot be found today. Now people seem to have a need for sleek and streamlined, for the modern twist on everything.
What stories could we find just surrounding these antique steam trains? Lots of lives and passions went into building both the trains, the track network and the legends themselves.
I want to start down memory lane with my Uncle Bill first, then branch out into the stories of the train era's beginnings. If any of my readers has a story to share, please email it to postmaster@mountainspiritproductions.org and write "train story" in the subject heading. I will be happy to feature your train story on my blog. Give me contact information and a note giving permission to publish the story.
Looking forward to a romantic journey down memory lane, on a slow train to nowhere and everywhere! Join me for the trip.
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