Rail Bikes and Speeders
*Photo Credit: Adirondack.net
Rail bike operations have been popping up all over the map, including this one at North Creek in New York State. These operations have increased in popularity and are a great way to reopen a stretch of unused railroad track for interim public use until they can be restored for train service. A rail bike operation in Carrizo Gorge between the Dos Cabezas siding and Goat Canyon Trestle, a distance of just over 7 miles one way, could also prove very popular and allow legal public access to the Gorge. The downside is having to bike 14 miles through the unforgiving desert.
Both of these options would require some kind of shuttle service, whether that be from Campo or another location such as Jacumba or nearby Ocotillo. Dos Cabezas is the preferred start point because it provides the shortest ride to Goat Canyon Trestle and gives the best views of the Gorge. More importantly, the tracks between there and the Trestle, apart from the collapsed Tunnel 16, are currently clear.
*Photo Credit: Tim's Adventures users.sdsc.edu
*Photo Credit: timberheritage.org
Another option are railroad speeders. These are used for track inspection and could provide the perfect means of accessing the Gorge for lack of a full-size train. The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo currently holds the exclusive rights to operate passenger trains on the ex-SD&A tracks, including those in the Gorge. A speeder train service between Dos Cabezas and the Goat Canyon Trestle would need to be operated through PSRM unless a lease agreement could be made for a separate operator. The speeders themselves could either be leased from private individuals for special trips or purchased/donated for more frequent runs. Special trailing cars, such as the one shown above, can be built to accommodate more passengers.
A 1999 episode of California's Gold featuring a speeder ride to Goat Canyon Trestle with some PSRM members can be viewed here.