A train-oriented nonprofit that sponsors a Christmas-themed ride may be close to finding a way to continue offering the popular excursion, after being caught between an escalating dispute between Clark County and the operator of the railroad.
Last week, Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, a volunteer group that offers train rides on a stretch of the county-owned railroad near Yacolt, announced it would have to cancel the scheduled train rides after Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad blocked the nonprofit from using the track.
The company holds the lease to operate the railroad with the county. Recently, the validity of the agreement has become uncertain.
Eric Temple, the company’s president, said the county communicated to him that it does not consider the lease valid. The county has taken an ambiguous stance on the question but stated that it will allow the company to operate the railroad until the issue can be resolved.
Temple said the uncertainty around the lease could expose him to crippling liability if an accident were to happen on the stretch of railroad near Yacolt used by the nonprofit.
On Tuesday, the Clark County Council unexpectedly responded by unanimously passing a resolution rebuking the company. The resolution states that the county has intended to operate in “good faith” to permit Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad to operate on the railroad while the issues could be settled “or until an appropriate legal authority could resolve any remaining dispute.” The resolution also called the company’s rationale suspect.
Calling the situation unfortunate, Councilor Eileen Quiring said she received sad emails from people who had made the train trip part of their holiday traditions.
“It was political grandstanding,” said Temple, who has asked the county to codify that the lease is valid, speaking after the meeting. “Let’s solve the problem, and stop pointing fingers.”
Randy Williams, the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad’s president, said that he is working with the nonprofit’s insurance company to get a rider that would allow the trips to continue, sidestepping the feud. But Temple said he’s not sure that the arrangement will work out, and he and his lawyers remain nervous.
Williams told the council that on a typical weekend, about 500 kids will make the trip to Yacolt to visit Santa Clause and go on a train ride. The package costs $80 to $100 and comes with a tree. The group has offered people who purchased packages everything but the train ride. It’s also offered partial or full refunds, which he said have cost the nonprofit.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we took a significant loss because of people asking for refunds,” Williams told the council. He said that last weekend only 50 kids attended.
Williams said the nonprofit gave out 150 tickets for disadvantaged kids to ride this weekend and doesn’t want to disappoint them. But he said that crews need to start making preparations Thursday morning to have the train ready.
