People wait in line to ride the train at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum.
President of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum, Bill Deutscher, writes a check to the Port of Chehalis to buy a segment of railroad track. Randy Mueller, CEO of the Port and Jack Eppert and Mary Kay Nelson from the CCR&M are also in attendence.
President of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum, Bill Deutscher, hands a check to the Randy Mueller, CEO of the Port of Chehalis to buy a segment of railroad track. Jack Eppert and Mary Kay Nelson with the CCR&M witness the transaction.
The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum (CCR&M) officially purchased 10.2 miles of railroad track for $40 from the Port of Chehalis on Tuesday afternoon.
The stretch of track is located between Chehalis and the Boistfort area. The track was available for purchase with some conditions placed upon the potential buyer — it must continue to benefit the community. The track had been used by the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum, a nonprofit organization, for over 30 years.
Since 1996 the Port of Chehalis owned the stretch of railroad track and was in a lease agreement that allowed the CCR&M the opportunity to use the track for train rides while responsible for maintaining the rail line which includes vegetation control, inspections, and crossings. Those responsibilities will remain the same after the purchasing of the track. The CCR&M said that the organization believes that owning the track will allow for improved chances of receiving grants and investments.
The signing of the papers and the writing of the $40 check was completed at the Title Guaranty Company of Lewis County located in Chehalis. The process was led by escrow assistant, Lisa Cabe at approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
“I enjoyed working with the port. They were a good and patient landlord,” said CCR&M President Bill Deutscher after handing the check to purchase the track to Randy Mueller, CEO of the Port of Chehalis.
The Board of Directors at the CCR&M felt the track would best benefit the community if it continued to be used for train rides that entertain citizens and attract tourists so they submitted a bid packet to the port, according to a November press release from the CCR&M. The organization stated that they take about 12,000 passengers on train rides along the Chehalis Valley annually which generates about $218,100.
“The total positive economic impact to the Chehalis, Centralia and Lewis County area is calculated at $925,661 per year which generates $75,904 in annual state and local tax revenue,” stated a press release from the Port of Chehalis.
The CCR&M recently collected some data regarding the ridership of the train, finding that 18 percent of passengers are from Lewis County and 82 percent of riders live outside of the community and travel to Lewis County to experience a train ride.
“The port has assisted the CCR&M in their work bringing millions of tourism dollars, and many smiles to our community over the last 23 years. Today they take the next step in controlling their own destiny by acquiring the Curtis rail line and planning for future improvements. Both organizations have cooperated to create this agreement that protects this rail line as a valuable community asset for tourism and recreational uses in the years to come,” said Ken Kostick, Port Commission President in a press release from the Port of Chehalis.
Many events are organized every year by the CCR&M including: Murder Mystery, Mother’s Day Train, “Eggspress” on Easter weekend, Sweethart’s Train for Valentine’s day, Father’s Day Train, Polar Express, Pumpkin Train, Santa Holiday Train and other events that are also listed on the CCR&M website.
“It is our intention to continue to be good neighbors and provide an excursion that is unique and entertaining. We are enthused about the future and want to see railroading history come alive in Lewis County,” said Deutscher.
