When a live video feed popular with railroad enthusiasts around the world displayed a messy scene in Chehalis last weekend, a pair of public servants sprang into action.
It started when viewers of a live Virtual Railfan feed on tracks near the Lewis County Historical Museum pointed out trash and shopping carts that had been left by apparent transients on Saturday.
During Monday's Chehalis City Council meeting, Councilor Daryl Lund explained that the stream has viewers around the world and concerns were raised about what the trashy scene could mean for potential tourism in the future.
When informed of the scene, West Thurston Fire Authority Chief Robert Scott and Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum both went down to the area to clean it up themselves, removing the carts, trash and used needles.
Scott explained in an telephone interview that the Railfan camera is part of a nationwide network of cameras set up for train enthusiasts around the world to tune in 24/7 to watch trains. He said that makes it imperative to keep the live stream’s view clean as tourists are now coming to visit Chehalis just to get into the camera’s view near the tracks and wave.
“It’s important we keep the area clean as the cam is now a draw for tourists everywhere. It’s helping bring people who are putting money into our local economy. We want to open up a Railfan park there (in Chehalis) too,” Scott told The Chronicle.
Plans for the area, which could someday be used as an Amtrak stop, are still in the developmental phase. According to Scott, other areas around the country have created Railfan parks and that has helped make those areas become even bigger tourist draws.
Scott emphasized the need to keep the tracks clean for the camera to avoid damaging the reputation of the Chehalis Railfan cam so tourists keep coming to visit.
With more train enthusiasts visiting, the town’s businesses will see more revenue and the proposed park would give them a safe area to watch trains pass by, he said.
The Chehalis Railfan livestream can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8VEdEPmFiE and the conceptual plans for the proposed Railfan park can been viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUtLcJY363I.
