Page 11
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Making tracks enhances menu aboard dinner train
By BOB RODRIGUEZ
Staff Writer
There’s no food like
train-flavored food.
And there’s nothing like
the soothing sway of a train
in motion, not to mention
the clickety-clack as the
wheels pass over the track
joints.
Put all that together, and
you have the recipe for an
enjoyable Thanksgiving
trip we stayed at the
McCloud Guest House
B&B.
In a sort-of strange
situation, the B&B where
we stayed this trip used to
house the offices of the
McCloud Lumber Co.; and
our lodging during our ear-
lier get-away was the hand-
some residence of the for-
mer lumber firm owner.
Our choo-choo, chew-
switchback at 4,200 feet.
The switchback, one of the
few remaining in the United
States, allows the train to
continue toward Shasta
City, as there’s no curve. It
would have been some feat
to engineer one in that area;
thus the switchback.
So the engine pulls its
cars onto the switchback; a
switch is opened; and the
train proceeds toward Pierce
There are great views of
forestland, some of them
panoramic, and other track-
side attractions during the
ride. Of course, to a railroad
aficionado like me, the sight
of rusty box cars, old
streamliner passenger cars
and the like are super-
interesting scenery.
The service aboard the
train is excellent, with atten-
tive waitresses and waiters.
And the interiors of the
“heavy-weight” cars them-
selves provide an air of ele-
gance.
The cars originally were
built in 1916 for Illinois
Central Railroad; acquired
by McCloud Railway; and
carefully rebuilt in its shops.
Although originally
coaches, the cars have been
revamped into dining cars
including lots of mahogany
wood work, plus brass
Siding with the engine push-
ing instead of pulling.
On the return segment,
the procedure is repeated,
and the locomotive contin-
ues to push, rather than pull,
the train. Thus, when
McCloud is reached, the
loco is facing the same way
as when it left and can easily
proceed to the train yard for
fuel and rest.
There is a concrete ring
adjacent to the track near the
switchback. It was the pit of
the turntable used to turn
snowplows years ago.
touches. Some cars have
tables and chairs; while oth-
ers offer booth-like seating.
Both are comfortable.
Memories of long-ago
train rides emerge when one
views the “Pullman” green
cars with their gold lettering.
For us, the train makes
the grade.
Through the end of this
year, the Shasta Sunset Din-
ner Train will roll again on
Fridays and Saturdays.
It’s a well-trained din-
ing experience.
The dinner train, run by the McCloud Railway Co. from
McCloud, Calif., near Shasta City, offers nostalgic trips
with meals served by an attentive staff in old-style din-
ing cars. The railway company and the numerous bed-
and-breakfast establishments in McCloud work hand-
in-hand to help keep the local economy working.
outing from the tiny and
picturesque mountain town
of McCloud, Calif., approxi-
mately 9 miles southeast of
Shasta City.
Last week, my wife,
Jan, and I stayed in the
McCloud River Inn Bed &
Breakfast, courtesy of our
children Vicki and Michael.
They wanted to do some-
thing nice to help us cele-
brate our 40th wedding an-
niversary, and they suc-
ceeded. Our room even had
its own spa.
It was our second trip to
McCloud, having ridden the
McCloud Railway Co.’s
Shasta Sunset Dinner Train
several years ago. On that
chew Thanksgiving meal
covered the grand total of 28
miles, from the town of
McCloud to a spot called
Rocky Point, approximately
a mile from 3,500-foot Mt.
Shasta.
Before we left Illinois
Valley on our trip, someone
asked where the train went.
Our answer, “It doesn’t go
anywhere, but it’s a great
trip.” Pulled by a diesel lo-
comotive, the five cars --
four dining cars and a
“dance car” -- simply go out
14 miles and return.
At one point, below
Signal Butte and after com-
pleting the first 5 miles of
the route, there’s a
Sunday, Dec. 12 - 1 p.m.
1-800-338-8838
*12 - QVC
*14 - Better Life TV
*16 - Home Shopping
*23 - Community Bulletins
*25 - Fox News
*26 - C-Span/House of Rep.
*27 - C-Span 2 (Senate)
*28 - ESPN 2
*31 - CNN Headline News
*33 - Fox Sports Northwest
*36 - Country Music TV
*37 - Nashville Channel
*40 - The History Channel
*41 - The Learning Channel
*42 - Cartoon Network
*43 - Home & Garden TV
*44 - The Weather Channel
I find television very
educating. Every time
somebody turns on the
set, I go into the other
room and read a book.
- Groucho Marx -
Phone for details 415-1979
30 years experience in water, sewer & pipeline
construction, brush clearing, septic installation
& utility line trenching
READY TO DIG
& AIMING TO PLEASE
24 HOURS A DAY
1-(541) 597-4486
1-(800) 297-0335
CCB#159580
Sunday, December
5th at 5:30 p.m.
No host.
3098 University Road, Grants Pass, OR
Travel West on Hwy. 199, turn left on Hubbard Lane,
right on University Road.
Besides the program listings
provided, the following also are
among those available from
Charter Communications.
For information about costs
that might apply, contact the
company.
Special:
Leaf raking & hauling
All friends of
Junior Fowler
come celebrate his
25th birthday at
Wild River Pizza
The public is invited to attend a
Christmas dessert buffet
with “High F’lutin” band
Additional Listings
Now hauling yard & household trash
<<MONDAY-FRIDAY<MORNING/AFTERNOON>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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6:00
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12:30
Mama’s Saved by Saved by Movie
Dawson’s Creek
Dawson’s Creek
Saved by Saved by
F [WTBS] Mama’s
Family
Family
the Bell the Bell
the Bell the Bell
Joyce
Feed
the
Digimon-
Digimon-
Power
Beyblade
Two
of
a
Living
the
The
700
Club
Gilmore
Girls
Full
Full
G [FOXFAM] Meyer Children Digital Digital Rangers
Kind
Life
House
House
Mary
Tyler
Mary
Tyler
Bob
Bob
Paid
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Green
Green
Mister
Ed
Addams
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Quincy,
M.E.
H [FOX] Moore Moore Newhart Newhart Program Program Acres
Acres
Family
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Today
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Home
Just
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Media
Improve. Shoot Me
Varied
SportsCenter
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Center
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bies
Rogers
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Changing-
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Believer’s
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Your Day
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and
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Bold,
1: [KTVL]
Restless
Beautiful
News
Hey
Oddpar-
Jimmy
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the
Blue’s
Miss
Lazy
Backyar-
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the
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Little
Bill
1; [NICK] Special Arnold! ents
Neutron
Bob
Explorer Clues
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Town
digans
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News
Cont’d
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Morning
America
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With
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and
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1= [KDRV]
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watch Md Makeover
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on
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of
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Judging
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1:00
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Matters
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1:30
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Show
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1st & 10
2:00
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digans
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rys
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chase
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gency
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Upright Varied
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Step by Step by
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Catherine Crier