McCloud River Railroad : Passenger Operations: Excursion Photos

Steam Locomotive #25
27 July 1985


The excursion of 27 July 1985 is typical of those held in the 1984-1986 time frame. In 1984 the museum swapped a former GN caboose it owned to the Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce in exchange for one of the former McCloud River coaches. The museum trucked the coach back to McCloud, and this trip was the first use of the car. The museum's former Trailer Train flatcar, two more leased SP flatcars, and the road's three cabooses rounded out the consist. This excursion also fell within a couple weeks of the filming of Stand By Me on the Lake Britton bridge. On a personal note, this was my first ride over the railroad, I would have been nine years old at the time. Most of the photos on this page are by me, with a few by my mom.

Unfortunately this excursion revival lasted only four years. By the time the final trips occurred in 1986 relationships between Fred Kepner and the McCloud River Railroad had deteriorated. Both parties, especially Fred, felt the other had failed to live up to promises made during the first couple years. In late 1987 Fred filed a lawsuit against the railroad over breach of contract issues, and under pressure from Itel the railroad quickly settled the suit, conveying title to the #25 and several other pieces of equipment in the agreement. The McCloud River Railroad entered an eight year period of no public excursions.


The ticket for the event.

The #37 pulled the excursion consist down to the depot, followed shortly by the #25.

The #25 coupling onto the train.

Rounding the wye at the upper end of the McCloud yard.

The train out on the line.

The #37 pushing on the rear of the train.

The excursion operated to Bartle and then over parts of the Burney and Lookout lines, to the McCloud River fill and McIntosh Vista respectively. After turning on the Bartle wye the train discharged the passengers at the water tank for a photo runby with just the #25.

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The U.S. Forest Service had the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl mascots on hand for parts of the excursion, and they briefly commandeered the #25 during the photo and water stop at Bartle.

Filling the #25 from the Bartle tank.


The trip brochure given to the riders.