VANCOUVER, Wash. — The 33-mile Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, owned by Clark County, Wash., and leased to two operators, will receive $4.7 million in state funding for line rehabilitation work, the Columbian newspaper reports.
The first $1.5 million will improve the 14-mile section between Vancouver and Battle Ground, Wash., leased to the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad, funding replacement of ties and ballast. That work, scheduled to begin this fall, will take about eight weeks.
Another $2.7 million will be spent on 27 miles between Battle Ground and Yacolt, for bridge repairs as well as tie and ballast work. Because of bridge issues, this portion of the line is largely dormant. Finally, $500,000 will go to ballast work between Yacolt and Chelatchie, a 7-mile stretch currently leased to a seasonal tourist railroad, the Battle Ground, Yacolt & Chelatchie Prairie Railroad.
