A Netflix and Lemony Snicket artifact for Humboldt County

In the latest episode of Humboldt Last Week

How about a little piece of the entertainment industry for Humboldt County? An old rail trolley was recently purchased out of Vancouver, Canada by the local Timber Heritage Association. Named “The Rickety Trolley,” the vehicle was used in the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events. 

“…In the show, it can be seen rolling along the shores of the ‘Briny Beach,’ which we think is so fitting, seeing as it will be rolling along our briny bay,” wrote the Timber Heritage Association on Facebook. “It wasn’t really powered in the way we needed it, so the genius minds of our volunteers devised an entirely new gasoline-hydraulic propulsion system. This is 100 percent custom, and totally cool. Expect to see this on the rails next year.”

“Who wouldn’t love to ride this along the bay?” they asked in another video post.

The Neil Patrick Harris show with dramatic and black-comedy elements wrapped last year after three seasons and has favorable reviews.

Tune in for this and other top stories from last week below.

Episode Description: 

An outpouring of support for Eureka hate crime victims, a piece of a Neil Patrick Harris show, more holiday fun, film industry bucks, positive trail developments, a new Amazon Prime flick, a resilient and talented Hoopa girl, the King Tide almost swallowed Tuluwat Island, kindness, vaccines, a logging protester development, local tribespeople endorse a development in national politics, Jared Huffman goes viral for a DeVos slight, and more.

Humboldt Last Week is Humboldt County’s news podcast, brought to you in part by Dylan Cimbura-Hernandez LMFTBelle Starr ClothingNorth Coast Co-op, Bongo Boy StudioPhotography by Shi, NCJ, RHBB, and KJNY. Also, enjoy our new-music show Humboldt Fresh Finds 🎵 Saturdays 7-8 PM here

Humboldt Last Week was founded by Myles Cochrane in 2016 | [email protected]

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

26 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lone Ranger
Guest
Lone Ranger
3 years ago

Has c.a.r.b. approved the gasoline motor for this propulsion system? And why is the price of fuel rising? Less people out, business down but usage up? Must be back to the green thing, 5 bucks a gallon sucks, but oh well.

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
3 years ago
Reply to  Lone Ranger

Renner $3.22
Costco $299
Miranda $3.41
https://www.gasbuddy.com/gasprices/california/humboldt/874

Lone Ranger
Guest
Lone Ranger
3 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

Be 5 bucks by july of 2022 , go green.

Go Solar
Guest
Go Solar
3 years ago
Reply to  Lone Ranger

Gas prices havent been this low since 2014.

Mask should be worn over mouth and nose, not over eyes.

could be worse
Guest
could be worse
3 years ago
Reply to  Lone Ranger

If the price of gasoline reflected the cost of mitigating the damage done by burning it, I’m sure it would cost at least $15/gallon.

Blind follower
Guest
Blind follower
3 years ago
Reply to  Lone Ranger

Sending a song request for you. Bachman Turner Overdrive….You ain’t seen nothing yet

humboldtfrog
Guest
humboldtfrog
3 years ago

awesome! that should be popular…what part of the Bay rail system will they use this on?

local observer
Guest
local observer
3 years ago
Reply to  humboldtfrog

hopefully it can go in reverse just as easy as forward, otherwise they have been misinformed on our Bay rail system’s capability.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago
Reply to  local observer

The THA runs the speeder rides we already have, and thus knows what the condition of the line is like. Hopefully this brings in a few bucks they can use to re-open more of the line.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

I’m kinda skeptical about money making but good luck to them. It would be a fun way of riding the rails.

Bliss
Guest
Bliss
3 years ago
Reply to  local observer

The Trolley, like the three THA crew car speeders, does have both forward and reverse capabilities.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
3 years ago

Is that the same “Myles Cochrane” that works @ dot.ca.gov?

Kym Kemp
Admin
3 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Yes.

Hick
Guest
Hick
3 years ago

Used to be a cool video of the Alton Pacific mini railway on YouTube. Worth checking out. Yeah cheap gas and cheap throw away goods from China. We can live like people in every other C.S. town in Ca. Widen the road through Richardson grove. Maybe we can all learn to speak Russian. Bunch of belly archers ruin it for everybody. Humboldt County LOVE or LEAVE IT!

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago

Looking at the photos on that facebook post, it definitely looks like someone was having fun… Hydraulics with presumably a hydrostatic drive setup (did they built it themselves, or borrow one from a mower or something?), a linear actuator that does… something?, a honda engine panel, blinkenlights… of course, if that honda panel is attached to the matching honda engine, souped-up might be an overstatement!

Film Professional
Guest
Film Professional
3 years ago

Was that trolley built for the show? If so, it was not designed to endure time. Items built as props and set dressing are created to last the term of principle photography (plus additional photography, if required) . If so, it may need a bit more attention than just a motor to propel itself. Just sayin’.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago

With how much work it would take to replace the propulsion system, and how much you’d have to take apart to do so, they probably would have gotten an idea how it was built.

Film Professional
Guest
Film Professional
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

You bring up a good point! And similarly, before purchasing it, the carriage could have been submitted to a thorough inspection. I only want to call attention to the facts that I am aware of and offer that to the discussion.
I too would like to see it as successful part of the ‘quaint Humboldt’ atmosphere (and would like to take a ride!).

Bliss
Guest
Bliss
3 years ago

While the trolley was built for the show, it was done so on a speeder chassis. Thus the running gear was designed for and is easily capable of operating on the rails.

trainwreck
Guest
trainwreck
3 years ago

I wanna get very stoned and make out with somebody random in that rig going like 50-60mph on the sketchy tracks near Shively. Now thats living! …Gotta dream

Uri
Guest
Uri
3 years ago

The Humboldt Lodging Alliance bought this awesome little trolley and had the Timber Heritage Association get the motor running which was not an easy task. Having something like this run between Arcata and Eureka would be incredible and a major tourist draw. Which is why the lodging alliance funded this. They also commissioned a feasibility study to see what it would take to fix the tracks. Surprisingly it wasn’t that much. Trollies and peddle rail bikes bring in significant revenue and provide a fun thing for families to do. Both local and visitors.
However, the Bay Rail with Trail project that was supposed to be a rail WITH trail project intends to remove the tracks and make all these options impossible. Despite significant efforts to encourage the County to employ alternative designs that may actually be less expensive they have refused to even have a meaningful dialogue. It is especially sad and wrong when our public servants only listen to the portion of the public they agree with.

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
3 years ago
Reply to  Uri

I consider myself a progressive uri and I agree with you. I actually really like the idea of rail in general and don’t like the current breed of enviros who are so against it. I wish more people used critical thinking instead of us vs. them mentality always.

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
3 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

I love rail. It has a historical-romantic allure.
Why is the rail being opposed? The type of fuel it burns and pollution it creates? I can not think of many other reasons for opposition.

Uri
Guest
Uri
3 years ago

Oddly enough the North Coast Rail Authority just voted against their own rail with trail policy regarding the removal of track. The Rail Authority has a proposal in for a rail bike operation they have ignored. Yes it is my proposal. We have since developed an electric assist for our rail bike that would make travel between Arcata and Eureka not only fun but efficient. NCRA which includes Supervisor Madrone and Harbor Commissioner Marks threw that proposal under the bus with their vote as well as any other option such as an excursion train or trolly. The county funding source and the community have always thought this was to be a rail with trail project. The deception is disgusting.
This has nothing to do with liberal/progressive/conservative politics. It is just flat out deceit and a small minded way of seeing what we can do with our bay that causes no harm and uses existing infrastructure.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago
Reply to  Uri

Do you have more information on this? I’ve always thought the plan was to leave the rails, and will need to do some objecting if this has changed.

Sam
Guest
Sam
2 years ago

I want the rail to operate between Arcata and Eureka. Who or where do I go to offer my vote or opposition to the project. Is there any useful links or names people can share. Going to check out the trolley now.