What a treat to stumble upon the "Coquille Switcher" taking a break from it's switching chores, as we were driving along Highway 101 in Coos Bay, Oregon!

This wasn't a railfan trip.  It was early Wednesday afternoon, October 13, 2004 and my wife and I were on vacation, touring the scenic Oregon Coast and simply passing through town, on our way to our day's destination of Newport.  However, being the railfan that I am, I try to keep an eye out for trains and today was no exception.  So when I spied #3831 in the yard at Coos Bay, I just had to stop for a closer look.

I am very fortunate in that I have an understanding wife.  Although she isn't a railfan, nor does she have an interest in railroad operations, Sharlene realizes that I can't resist the urge to investigate a railroad operation, so she allows me to indulge.  While I'm checking out the action, she will amuse herself by reading a book.  On these little impromptu excursions, I try to keep things short, so I don't abuse her good nature.

Photos:  CORP's switching yard in Coos Bay, Oregon.

The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad, also known as CORP, is comprised of two ex-S.P. branches that were acquired at the end of 1994.  I was fortunate to be visiting the Coos Bay Line, which runs from Eugene to Coquille, Oregon.  The other branch is known as the Siskiyou Line, which runs from Springfield Jct., Oregon to Black Butte, California.

Photos:  CORP #3831 takes a break from her switching duties while the crew goes to lunch.

CORP #3831, a GP-38 was basically sitting, idling in the yard, taking a break from switching duties.  I walked around and took a few photos and then I ran into Larry, the conductor of the train.  I started up a conversation, you know the routine, "How you doin' today?" and all that sort of babble.  When I got down to business, he told me that the train was the "Coquille Switcher" and they had just come from Coquille with loads of lumber and they were in the process of making up a train for the "Coos Bay Hauler" to take to Eugene. Of course there were more pressing matters, as it was lunch time.  I thanked him for the information, wished him a pleasant day, and headed back to our van to continue our journey.  Total time for this railfan trip?  About 15 minutes.