Yosemite Valley Railroad Requiem

The melody for Requiem for the Road has been inside me for a very long time. The Yosemite Valley Railroad is one of my favorites. I have hiked many long hours over the old road bed and wondered about it. Sometimes I drive outside of Merced back to Sonora, and only for a moment I can see one of her ghost engines still working her way towards Snelling

Writing a song for a memory of something i never knew was not that hard for me. My oil paintings of the Yosemite Valley Railroad has given me a feel for what was. Everytime I paint, I feel as if I had been there along with my subjets!

When I get to record my first Jazz Cd album in the future, I am calling the album-"Requiem for the Road". This song will be the last song on the album. By then I might have the money to bring in a full orchestra to give the song s true feeling.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• yosemite valley railroad
• blackirish band
• black irish
• railroad art
• train art
• locomotive art
• yosemite history
• steam engines
• locomotives

[SierraRailway]

ThomasRivette

that's the entire railroad right there. it'd take not millions, but probably billions of dollars plus permission from the park to run the trains in. there is a new museum being constructed called the Yosemite Gateway Railway Museum(YGRM), and they will be setting up a mile or so of track, not necessarily on the original ROW, but just to run their equipment. so far, the collection will be a 10 ton Rogers steam engine, YV box car 609, an MRS-1 diesel, etc. Grand opening? who knows.

[ThomasRivette]

Well can't they atleast bring back the line from Merced to El Portal?

[ThomasRivette]

Acctualy, the owner of the car is a PLA member. Thereforthe 330 is owned by Niles Canyon.

[SierraRailway]

Thomas Rivette

Only the RPO is owned by the PLA. the 330 is owned by one of Jack's friends, who bought what was left of the car, salvaged as much of the old wood as possible, and rebuilt the car, with dedicated effort.

[SierraRailway]

Many, including me have asked this question. I've asked Jack Burgess if it would be possible. He says it would be nearly physically impossible for it to ever be brought back, plus Yosemite National Park doesn't let private railroads into the park; it was a near miracle for the original YVRR to have gotten in.

[ThomasRivette]

Is the Yosemite Valley Railway coming back?

[ThomasRivette]

Cool, over here in Niles Canyon we have a Yosemite Valley RPO car and Observation car.

[SierraRailway]

There's hardly a memory left... Thank you for keeping it alive Patrick.

[SierraRailway]

Hi Trainfire, I'm sure you know jack Burgess. He's practically the GOD of the Yosemite Valley railroad. He knows everything there is to know about it. I'm sure he really appreciates this video.

I wish I had been around for the Yosemite Valley Railroad too. Its end was tragic.

[Trainfanatic192]

Can't wait for this to be on CD! Great work.