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The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting marks CORP) is a Class II railroad[1] operating between Northern California and Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was previously a mainline owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) between Eugene and Weed, California (north of Redding, California) via Medford, Oregon. SP sold the route on December 31, 1994, in favor of using its route to Eugene via Klamath Falls, Oregon and Cascade Summit.
The total length of the CORP is 439 miles (707 km), consisting of 303 miles (488 km) mainline and the 136-mile (219 km) Coos Bay branch, another line once owned by the SP. Traffic (1996 figure) is estimated at 40,000 cars per year. CORP is a subsidiary of RailAmerica.
On May 17, 2007, CORP was awarded a Silver E. H. Harriman Award in Group C for the railroad's safety record in 2006. This award marked the first time a RailAmerica-owned railroad has earned a Harriman award.[2]
Siskiyou Pass
In December 2007, CORP announced it was cutting shipments over the Siskiyou Pass south of Ashland, Oregon beginning January 15, 2008. Shipments from Ashland and areas north of Ashland would be re-routed north to Eugene before heading south via Klamath Falls. Reduced shipments would continue over the Siskiyou Pass until April 15, 2008 on a bi-weekly basis.[3]
On March 20, 2008, CORP announced plans to keep its Siskiyou line open between Medford and Weed, and to spend nearly $5 million on improvements to the line.[4]
Coos Bay Line
On September 21, 2007, CORP elected to shut down most of the Coos Bay branch. The track is currently closed between Vaughn (west of Noti) and Coquille (south of Coos Bay). This action was taken after it was revealed that the nine aging tunnels on the line required repairs that were internally estimated to cost up to $7 million.[5] The line from Eugene to Vaughn remains open, and continues to serve customers in west Eugene, Noti, and Vaughn.
On October 23, 2007, the Port of Coos Bay filed a $15 million lawsuit against CORP, in response to its closing of the Coos Bay Branch. The suit claims that CORP failed to provide the required 180 days' notice that it would shut down a leased spur to the bay's North Spit.[6]
On November 21, 2008, the Surface Transportation Board ordered CORP to sell part of the branch to the Port of Coos Bay for $16.6 million. The 111 miles (179 km) segment links Danebos, Oregon and Cordes, Oregon. The Port of Coos Bay has until December 1 to take action on the offer.[7] The price was between what RailAmerica, CORP's corporate parent, had desired ($25 million), and what the port had initially offered ($15 million).[8]
Further reading
- Robertson, Donald B. (1998). Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History - Volume IV - California. Caldwell, ID: The Caxton Printers. ISBN 0-87004-385-4.
- Stindt, Fred A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide - 5th Ed.. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 0-89024-290-9.
- Walker, Mike (1997). Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - California and Nevada - Post Merger Ed.. Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom: Steam Powered Publishing. ISBN 1-874745-08-0.
References
- ^ Surface Transportation Board, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC, ET AL.--CONTROL--FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY, LLC, September 28, 2007
- ^ RailAmerica (2007-05-18). "RailAmericas Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Wins Harriman Award". Press release. Retrieved on 18 May 2007.
- ^ Conrad, Chris (2007-12-15). "Freight lines at crossroads", Mail Tribune. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.
- ^ "Roseburg railroad offers to keep Siskiyou line open, but at a price", The News-Review (2008-03-21).
- ^ Associated Press Staff (2007-09-21). "Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad shut downs operations", The Oregonian. Retrieved on 25 September 2007.
- ^ http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/archive/week_of_102207.html
- ^ "STB sets Coos Bay Line portion price at $16.6 million", Progressive Railroading (2008-11-21). Retrieved on 22 November 2008.
- ^ Ross, Winston (2008-11-21). "Coastal rail link priced for sale: Coos Bay port officials hope to make the purchase and restart the vital passage", The Register-Guard. Retrieved on 22 November 2008.
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