Yreka Western Railroad Company

06/13/2025

Allen Brown II, President/CEO of Railmark Holdings Inc., spoke to the club today about his ongoing renovation of the former Union Station passenger depot, which also serves as his company’s railroad services headquarters.
The depot, which opened July 1, 1902, served passengers of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad; the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Railway (aka, the Henderson Route) & the Illinois Central Railroad, replacing the three railroads’ separate depots. The last passenger train stopped there in 1971. After use by L&N rail crews, the building was abandoned in 1978. It was condemned by the city and scheduled for demolition, but local history advocates campaigned to save it. After it sat vacant for decades, the city in 2015 deeded the property to Architectural Renovators LLC, which it paid to stabilize the building structurally & restore its exterior. Allen acquired it in late 2021.
Renovation of the small adjacent Railway Express Agency building (the UPS of its day) has been completed. Allen said renovation of the former Ladies Waiting Room on the west side of the building should be complete by this August. Other portions will follow and should be complete in 2026, followed by the rebuilding of the passenger platform out back in 2027. Among other things, he has had 12 original stained glass windows reproduced based on old photos. “All original portions will be restored,” in some cases with recreated components. He hopes to someday rebuild the Henderson Tower, a former two-story signaling & switching tower, for rail fans to use as an observation platform.
Now, Allen is asking the public share memories of visits to the depot as well as photos & any artifacts. Folks can email him at [email protected]. Starting July 1, he said, the website railmark.org will include remembrances of Union Station.

05/02/2025

https://hoptownchronicle.org/railroad-services-firm-submits-high-bid-for-hopkinsvilles-ln-train-depot/

The bid from Railmark Holdings Inc. includes a pledge to establish a train-centric travel agency in Hopkinsville's L&N Train Depot.

05/08/2024

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240507881723/en/Railmark-Named-Operator-Developer-of-Tishomingo-County-Mississippi-Rail-Line

Railmark Industrial Railway Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Railmark Holdings, Incorporated (www.railmark.com), has been named new operator and dev

09/21/2023

https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-private-us-passenger-rail-051944723.html

The first big test of whether privately owned high-speed passenger train service can prosper in the United States will launch Friday when Florida's Brightline begins running trains between Miami and Orlando, reaching speeds of 125 mph (200 kph). It's a $5 billion bet Brightline's owner, Fortress Inv...

01/25/2023

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famous-alaska-railroad-turns-100-194741426.html

Stretching 470 miles from Southern Alaska to the northern wilderness, the Alaska Railroad is considered one of the most scenic train rides in the US.

11/22/2022

YW's corporate parent, Railmark Holdings, Inc. just re-launched its website. Visit www.railmark.com.

10/21/2022

For those in the Yreka area, the Yreka Western Railroad is having a "Depot Yard Sale" tomorrow, Saturday October 22nd from 9am until 4pm. We have lots of stuff from the railroad's past including historical items from Yreka and Siskiyou County. We have merchandise from the days of running the Blue Goose. This event will be inside the freight house only. We have been cleaning out the facility to make way for a future use and are simply trying to remove things. The proceeds from this event will be used to begin restoration of the old coal tower which is just behind the freight house. Please enter through Gate 1 and enter the freight house from Door 2 on the ease side.

Hope to see you there!

09/30/2022

The YW right of way is looking good these days!

09/16/2022

https://www.railwayage.com/freight/class-i/csx-foote-to-retire-hinrichs-to-take-throttle/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=35115

CSX on Sept. 15 reported that as “part of a planned succession process,” Joseph R. Hinrichs will become President and CEO, succeeding James M. Foote, effective Sept. 26.

07/23/2022

Inside the YW depot in the conference room sits the YW BLUE GOOSE. Today he is wearing his Conductor's outfit. He also has a pinstriped engineers outfit, complete with pinstriped cap. The goose has adorned the YW conference room now for at least 20 years, maybe longer. Some talented YW female employees years ago made sure he looked sharp.

07/22/2022

YW 21 passing by one of its many scenic views of Mount Shasta.