By Tom Taylor

California’s Western Railway Museum is working to extend its reach thanks to the installation of additional overhead catenary.

“Destination Molena” is an active campaign for the Western Railway Museum that will extend electric service about three-quarters of a mile beyond the current end of service at Platano. Molena was a former siding with a warehouse on the historic Sacramento Northern mainline that is part of the museum property.

Ties are being replaced, angle irons repaired, 90-pound historic rail replaced as needed and trolley bonds welded back in place. Historically accurate catenary poles have been installed and wire has been hung about halfway to the future end of service.  The trestle at Birds Landing has been rebuilt so that work trains can now access the rails south of the trestle to dump ballast. Once completed this will extend electrified service for the museum’s historic trolleys and interurban cars over six miles south of the museum along the former Sacramento Northern mainline. The museum hopes to have the extension open by next year.

For more information, visit WRM’s website.