Remembering the Modoc Northern

Рет қаралды 19,083

Күн бұрын

This is a KZfaq exclusive!!!
The Modoc Northern was a short line railroad that operated on the former Southern Pacific's Modoc Line between Klamath Falls, Oregon and Alturas, California.
It had a short life span of only 3 1/2 years from November 2005 to May, 2009.
This program shows the Modoc Northern on its inaugural run on November 5, 2006 and features a cab ride between Klamath Falls and Tulelake.
On April 18, 2006 we chase the train between Tulelake and Alturas.
Finally we follow SDM number 651 working between Texum and Tulelake on November 18, 2008.
The first two segments of this program were shot with a standard definition broadcast camera with a 4:3 aspect ratio. We have attempted to preserve this dated video footage to the best of our ability.
We hope you enjoy the program!
--Aaron Bentsen
7idea Productions
0:00 Introduction at Texum
2:04 Cab Ride to Tulelake
9:25 Cab Ride back to Texum
13:48 Tulelake to Alturas
23:14 SD9 Number 651
28:57 Fred Kepner's Collection

Пікірлер: 62

@rorychristy2151 Күн бұрын

Great video…

@StocktonSubber Жыл бұрын

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.

@mackpines Жыл бұрын

Great footage of this very short lived railroad. The Modoc line is probably the least known yet most fascinating of Southern Pacific’s routes

@LunarEquity93 Жыл бұрын

Great video so is this and the line completely abandoned it would be nice if a scenic railroad bought it

@williamcochell9889 2 жыл бұрын

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!

@bruceskehan251 3 ай бұрын

Great history and show case of how it was 😊. Thanks

@Marks_Station 2 жыл бұрын

That was an interesting story. I didn't even know this railroad existed.

@SPNGLovato18 2 жыл бұрын

I love the modoc line and finding this video was great! SP Cab forwards used to run the line.

@echohunter4199 Жыл бұрын

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.

@SPNGLovato18 Жыл бұрын

@@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.

@echohunter4199 Жыл бұрын

@@SPNGLovato18 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.

@DelayInBlockProductions Жыл бұрын

Absolutely amazing video.

@7ideaproductions Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Right place at the right time for a railroad that wasn't around for very long.

@FreihEitner 2 жыл бұрын

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!

@MilePost106 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! Hope to see more

@bruceskehan6189 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Madeline resident!

@StormySkyRailProductions 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video from the ground and a ride along segment.

@dougkubash8673 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, really enjoyed it!

@svtrains4773 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting video! Thanks for sharing!

@ronwong6102 2 жыл бұрын

That's wonderful!

@derrickwong5337 2 жыл бұрын

That's wonderful 😊!

@TheRailfanDan 2 жыл бұрын

Very cool you captured all this AND got a cab ride as well! I like the SD9 in this scheme too.

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@TheRailfanDan 2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@TheRailfanDan 2 жыл бұрын

@@7ideaproductions you're making me jealous now ha! What were the reason for those pipe trains? I'm not sure I heard about those.

@mr.shadestrains6033 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome 🚂😎👍

@Benton-SouthernRR 6 ай бұрын

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.

@stevenbrooks1243 2 жыл бұрын

Good Ole Modoc Line

@Rip4vid2c 2 жыл бұрын

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

@stevenbrooks1243 2 жыл бұрын

Merrill great frosty stand

@Rip4vid2c Жыл бұрын

@@stevenbrooks1243 The Polar Bear. I knew the owner in 60' also the owner in the 70's.

@Rip4vid2c Жыл бұрын

@@stevenbrooks1243 The Polar Bear was at one time owned by our Neighbors across the Street. It then sold to people 2 blocks away.

@robertlloyd7167 2 жыл бұрын

That was a LOT of exhaust smoke! Great video though; I grew up in Klamath Falls and seeing my old stomping grounds was awesome!

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Those old GEs hadn't been run out in a while. Either that or they wanted to be ALCO's!

@robertlloyd7167 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

@@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?

@robertlloyd7167 2 жыл бұрын

@@7ideaproductions, thank you!

@echohunter4199 Жыл бұрын

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.

@ronaldmorrison6013 2 жыл бұрын

Wow... early cabover Pete's and Freightliners

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Yes he was quite the collector.

@douglasskaalrud6865 2 жыл бұрын

Surprised to see an ex-Missabe SD-M with its high hood intact. Chopping the noses was part of the rebuilding process.

@matthewfawbush7731 2 жыл бұрын

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

@ericemmons3040 11 ай бұрын

It looks like Sierra Railroad #18 is one of the steam locomotives in the derelict track; would be nice to see that one restored. . .

@camauedd8042 2 жыл бұрын

These engines sat in Tulelake a long time with a caboose...

@draytonblackgrove 2 жыл бұрын

No one is better at making rail videos.

@driveincanada9713 2 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍

@evanf1293 2 жыл бұрын

Dang, this is like the shortest-lived tourist line I've ever heard of.

@ericemmons3040 11 ай бұрын

It was an actual freight-hauling railroad; unfortunately, the ups and downs of the economy caused it to kick the bucket. . .

@evanf1293 11 ай бұрын

@@ericemmons3040 yep, sure is sad.

@2quintly Жыл бұрын

Good show, too bad that shortline bombed.

@patrickyu8470 7 ай бұрын

The green/yellow color scheme and the “V” on the nose makes it somewhat reminiscent of the older Chinese/Soviet/East European locomotives…

@atsf4life183 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Aaron Are you railfaning next to the Midwest say like the Chillicothe sub

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion!

@atsf4life183 2 жыл бұрын

@@7ideaproductions you’re welcome 🙂

@MojaveNarrows 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Aaron, What will be the next release on disc?

@7ideaproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Stay tuned! We have projects in the works.

@joshwalton133 11 ай бұрын

Now I'm kind of cure is that railroad still exist or hasn't been taking over our abandoned abandoned once

@gunnaraasheim1567 5 ай бұрын

😊

@scotabot7826 2 жыл бұрын

Why did it fold? Not enough business?

@arandomtrip8082 2 жыл бұрын

Like always bad news at the end for every short railroad especially in california!😠

@richardhendrickson Жыл бұрын

Why not use your engine.?!!!?