FILLMORE, Calif. — Replacement of a bridge on a rail line operated by Sierra Northern that washed out in this month’s heavy rains may cost $1.5 million, the Ventura County Star reports.
About a quarter of the 450-foot bridge was washed away on Jan. 10, apparently by debris that damaged then knocked out the concrete structure, the newspaper reports. The county-owned line between Ventura and the Fillmore area has been operated by Sierra Northern under a contract from the Ventura County Transportation Commission since December 2021 [see “Sierra Northern to operate line …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 16, 2021].
The line was seeing about one freight train a week, Sierra Northern CEO Ken Beard told the Star. “We were getting ready to increase our business just as this bridge fell down,” he said. He anticipated repairs could be completed by the end of March or April.
The railroad is still working to develop freight traffic after the prior contract holder operated tourist trains and for movie and TV filming. Sierra Northern is also pursuing the filming business, and has locomotives positioned on both sides of the bridge so it can continue those operations even while the Fillmore portion of the line is disconnected.
An official at the transportation commission said the agency would seek federal funding to help repair the bridge.
Ventura County is covered. Most of CA’s counties are.
If this is in one of the three counties in the Federal Disaster declaration signed by the president federal funds should be available since the bridge was owned by the county. Not sure which counties were covered in the declaration.