"At many times, it was the most expensive line in the entire nation to maintain, just because of all the landslides," explained Alicia Haman, executive director of the non-profit Friends of the Eel River. "There were a lot of fatal incidents, with rail cars ending up in the river, and so it just became a huge burden." This underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining this historically significant railroad amidst natural geological instability.
"There are lots and lots of small tributaries to the main stem that have been blocked off. The fish can't get up there to access the habitat that exists," she said. This highlights the ecological impact of industrial waste affecting both water quality and aquatic life in the region.
Today, kayakers often navigate from the headwaters in Mendocino National Forest to the river's end in Humboldt Bay. Along the way, they have to dodge twisted rail lines, collapsed culverts, and entire train cars submerged in the water. This vividly illustrates the ongoing physical reminders of the railroad's troubled history in the area.
#railroad-history #environmental-impact #geological-challenges #industrial-waste #great-redwood-trail
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