On November 1, 2005, operation of the Klamath Falls-to-Alturas segment, the last remaining part of the Southern Pacific's Modoc line transfered to the new Modoc Northern Railroad under a five year lease option with Union Pacific. 

Although the name Modoc Northern railroad is in itself historic, it was never actually used for an operational railroad until this time.

In late 2006, Lake County (Oregon) commissioners requested Modoc Northern Railroad assume the management and operation of the Lake County Railroad, which runs from Lakeview Oregon to Alturas, California.

For almost four years the railroad brought new life to the old Modoc line, investing untold man-hours in rejuevenating historically poorly-maintained track on the Lake County branch and trying to rebuild traffic in the entire Lake County-Alturas-Klamath Falls corridor.

Sadly, the Modoc Northern now appears to be a "fallen flag."

On May 5, 2009, Union Pacific terminated the MNRR's contract and took back over the operation of the Modoc Line from Klamath Falls to Alturas.  Lake County also soon terminated their lease and a new operator has been retained; Frontier Rail is now operating the Lake County line from Lakeview to Alturas as the Lake Railroad. 

Modoc Northern's Don Blansett is challenging UP's and Lake County's decision. 

For now, though, I present my photos and narrative tour of the Modoc Northern Railroad. Salute!

If you would like to see a random but smaller sized series of photos I've taken of the Modoc Northern, click here. 
For a milepost chart with associated photos taken near the milepost locations, click here. 
Also, the above map is clickable for named locations.
And finally, I invite you to take the full tour... continue reading!

Official Ribbon Cutting and "Inaugural" Train

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2005, the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Modoc Northern Railroad at the wye at Texum, a mile south of Union Pacific's Klamath Falls yard.  The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including members of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, principals of the railroad, representatives of local government, customers and potential customers of the railroad as well as local news media. 

The "inaugural" train consisted of Modoc Northern Railroad's General Electric B30-7 #7780 and B23-7 #1011, caboose #01480 (all resplendent in a new green, yellow and brown paint job), two borrowed passenger coaches and Union Pacific's C40-8 #9212.  It arrived on the north leg of the wye after coming from UP's Klamath Falls yard and paused short of the Tingley Lane grade crossing to pose for pictures and stand by for the ribbon cutting. 

Although the rairload had been in operation for several days with borrowed UP power, this marked the first trip that the Modoc Northern's locomotives were to make on the railroad.

Click images for larger views

After the ribbon was cut, the train eased across Tingley lane and stopped clear of the crossing to board the guests.

Modoc Northern, continued on next page