Support the El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors will vote on an important resolution (item #10-0682 on the agenda) this Tuesday. You can access the Board of Supervisor's agenda item by clicking here. It's Item 57 on the consent calendar.

The resolution authorizes the "El Dorado County Museum to pursue development and operation of the El Dorado Western Railway, as a living history program of the El Dorado County Historical Museum."

Please attend the meeting to show your support for the railroad park. The Supervisor's chambers are located at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, California. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2010.

In addition, please forward a letter of support to Supervisor James "Jack" R. Sweeney, the supervisor for the 3rd Supervisorial District in El Dorado County. Mr. Sweeney must receive this letter by Monday, June 28, 2010. You can hand-carry the letter to his office at the address above or respond by email at bosthree@edcgov.us.

The resolution supports these critical milestones:

• Gives the El Dorado County Historical Museum and its operating partner, the El Dorado Western Railway, permission to start work on railroad park right-of-way, track rehabilitation, laying the third rail for combined standard/narrow gauge operation, etc. This work will be accomplished primarily through volunteer labor and donations.
• Set the boundaries of the railroad park as the Mother Lode Road grade crossing to the west and end-of-track at Missouri Flat Road to the east.
• Reserves the one spur on the eastern portion of the right-of-way for use by the railroad park.
• Maintains the Placerville Branch as a regional multi-use recreational corridor. The railroad park will not be the exclusive user of the right-of-way.

It is very important that you show your support for the El Dorado County Historical Railroad Park. The Friends of the El Dorado Trail are demanding the removal of all track west of Missouri Flat Road. They believe that they should be given the exclusive right to use the existing road bed for their own personal in interest, at the expense of members of the community who wish to enjoy the living history railroad program and equestrian trails.

The county museum, with the El Dorado Western Railway Foundation, is working to create a viable living history program that honors the contribution the railroad and those who made their living on it to El Dorado County.