Train service returns to the Bay Area
COOS BAY, Ore.-- The first train to come into the Bay Area since 2007 made its way down the tracks on Friday.
The train marks a significant milestone for The International Port of Coos Bay who has been trying to repair miles of tracks and restore train service to Coos Bay-North Bend since the line was left in ruins by a hedge fund back in September 2007.
For the first time since 2007, the swing bridge aligned with tracks on both sides of the bay, and a blue engine slowly cross the bay Friday morning and made its way into the bay.
Many of those on the engine said they could feel an improvement in the tracks.
"Stuff that's done is like night and day," said Aaron Lovelady, Coos Bay Rail Link operations manager. "It feels way better than what it was."
Lovelady and a couple of other guys on the engine say they remember pulling the last 17-car train out of the bay back in 2007, and they say the return of the train should be something all bay area residents should be proud of.
"It's pretty exciting you know," Lovelady said. "It's kind of an official return to Coos Bay for us."
The engine came down the tracks in reverse, a position in which Lovelady said was simply out of convenience.
"This is the direction it was facing when we got into it, and it works just as well backwards as it does forwards," he said.
Residents in downtown Coos Bay and downtown North Bend all stopped and watched as the first train ran down the tracks blowing its whistle and ringing its bell.
The Port says it wants people to stay off of the tracks now that train have officially returned to the area.
Port of Coos Bay Spokeswoman Elise Hamner told KCBY last month that the train will mainly be used to ship supplies from Bunker Hill.
Hamner said right now companies are using trucks to haul their products to the North Spit. The return of trains marks a significant way to save money on fuel costs.
The train marks a significant milestone for The International Port of Coos Bay who has been trying to repair miles of tracks and restore train service to Coos Bay-North Bend since the line was left in ruins by a hedge fund back in September 2007.
For the first time since 2007, the swing bridge aligned with tracks on both sides of the bay, and a blue engine slowly cross the bay Friday morning and made its way into the bay.
Many of those on the engine said they could feel an improvement in the tracks.
"Stuff that's done is like night and day," said Aaron Lovelady, Coos Bay Rail Link operations manager. "It feels way better than what it was."
Lovelady and a couple of other guys on the engine say they remember pulling the last 17-car train out of the bay back in 2007, and they say the return of the train should be something all bay area residents should be proud of.
"It's pretty exciting you know," Lovelady said. "It's kind of an official return to Coos Bay for us."
The engine came down the tracks in reverse, a position in which Lovelady said was simply out of convenience.
"This is the direction it was facing when we got into it, and it works just as well backwards as it does forwards," he said.
Residents in downtown Coos Bay and downtown North Bend all stopped and watched as the first train ran down the tracks blowing its whistle and ringing its bell.
The Port says it wants people to stay off of the tracks now that train have officially returned to the area.
Port of Coos Bay Spokeswoman Elise Hamner told KCBY last month that the train will mainly be used to ship supplies from Bunker Hill.
Hamner said right now companies are using trucks to haul their products to the North Spit. The return of trains marks a significant way to save money on fuel costs.
It HAS to be a good thing!!! Yay Coos Bay Rail Link!Â
Way to go, Port of Coos Bay. Finally something positive happening.