Roaring Camp faces no threat to excursion train

“Save the Beach Train!” an email from Roaring Camp reads, “a dastardly move ... an aggressive attack, fueled by special interests.”

Yet there is no existential threat to Roaring Camp, or their excursion train service.

The RTC is seeking to railbank the Felton branchline in an effort to preserve their operations by releasing it from federal freight obligations, a move that will likely be approved by the STB as freight operations ceased 14 years ago.

Roaring Camp’s desire to have the RTC spend $50-65 million in taxpayer money to restore private freight service has no real bearing on their current operations.

Failure to railbank at this time could result in the loss of the entire corridor to adjacent property owners, and the ability to build either a commuter train, or trail in the future. So what Roaring Camp is actually saying is, “It’s our way, or the highway!”

— David Date, La Selva Beach