Amador County - The Amador Central Railroad was sold to the Recreational Railroad Coalition (RRC) Historical Society by Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) for $1 on Saturday, ending months of negotiation over the future of the historic tracks.

RRC President Larry Bowler confirmed that the tracks, adjacent land and all associated equipment officially changed hands and will become the joint property of the Amador County Historical Society (ACHS) and Bowler’s nonprofit group.

“We are overjoyed that Sierra Pacific has been so generous with this gift,” said RRC President Larry Bowler. “Although it was a valuable asset to SPI, the company chose to preserve the rail line rather than develop the property for other uses.”

“This is a model of corporate philanthropy and is appreciated by historians and rail buffs throughout the nation” he added. “The RRC Historical Society represents a group of dedicated rail enthusiasts who use the tracks for recreational and historical purposes on small rail cars known as “speeders.”

SPI made the donation “to assure that this piece of Sierra foothill history will be preserved and maintained in the future,” said Amador Council of Tourism President Maureen Funk in a release.

Larry Cenotto, President of the ACHS, stated “The Amador Foothills Railroad is one of the most valuable historical assets in Amador County - a central piece of the county’s history will now be preserved thanks to Sierra Pacific Industries.”

In all, thirty three parcels across 11.8 miles of land were included in the deal. The line stretches from Highway 88 in Martell to Ione. Beginning in 1904 and operating for a century, the Amador Central Railroad was the main connection with the Southern Pacific Company at Ione and Martell. The carrier served the areas gold mining communities and hauled lumber products from nearby sawmills. Sierra Pacific Industries purchased the rail from another forest products company in 1997 and has since allowed RRC members to use the rail for recreational purposes.

A formal press conference detailing the sale will be held on Wednesday, October 27th at 11 am at the Ione Railroad Depot. Speeder cars will be on hand as well as representatives from the involved organizations. Refreshments will be provided.

Story by Alex Lane. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..