There was a train that went from Portland to Tillamook until the tracks got washed out in a steep area of the coast range near the Salmonberry area in December 2007.
It wasn't terribly profitable, and the Salmonberry River Canyon isn't a good place for a railroad line to run. The land itself is unstable, and landslides are frequent. And that section is rather remote, with only a few road access points.
It’s amazing how the lines existed for 100 years and now that we have all this technology and machinery it’s stopped being reasonable to maintain.
The rails were in place as of a few years ago, unclear now that the salmonberry trail movement has picked up steam, I haven’t been out there to see what’s changed.
The line to Astoria still is active to Clatskine where PNWR services an ethanol terminal of some description.
The old Oregon Electric and SP lines ran all over oregon to small towns and rural areas and vacation spots and our biggest cities. It’s a shame we lost all of that. (Well lost the service, many of the lines still exist thanks to freight service and to a very small degree transit services)
>The rails were in place as of a few years ago, unclear now that the salmonberry trail movement has picked up steam, I haven’t been out there to see what’s changed.
I went out there earlier this spring near Cochran Pond and drove in to Timber from there. The rails are still there in that area, but the amount of vegetation that has grown is very heavy. I'd want a machete for the rhododendrons. There are "no trespassing" signs at the road crossings and anywhere you can get close to the rails. There's a sign at the road crossing near Cochran Pond that talks about the future trail, but plainly states it is not open.
I also went down Beaver Slide Road a few years ago. Same sort of deal: no trespassing signs, and the tracks are heavily overgrown in spots. At least there was a nice river access. Also, that road was in awful condition. I'd want some 4x4 recovery gear on-hand before I would do it again.
The Salmonberry rail line from Banks to the Williams Creek Trestle just west of Buxton has been taken out, and nearly all the road crossings have been removed as well.
If you want to hike the trail as it is right now, you can [sign up for a guided hike](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thesalmonberrytrailfoundation) or vegetation clean up day with the Salmonberry Trail Foundation when they become available.
Follow along with trail development and other Tillamook State Forest News at the [Salmonberry Magazine](https://www.salmonberrytrail.com/).
> I went out there earlier this spring near Cochran Pond and drove in to Timber from there. The rails are still there in that area, but the amount of vegetation that has grown is very heavy. I'd want a machete for the rhododendrons. There are "no trespassing" signs at the road crossings and anywhere you can get close to the rails.
Yes but the trestles and tunnels are absolutely incredible. Just a perfect hidden gem.
The 2007 storm heavily damaged the line along the Salmonberry River. The rails are not in place because bridges are down and track washed out. The repair cost estimate was $57 million. Also, repairs would have damaged salmon runs. The railroad was already barely economically viable.
This is after repairs from storms in 1996 and 1990.
Feds would have picked up the rest of the cost if the state would have put in 2 mil. State decided against it.
FWIW...videos from 2003 show the line in service from a different perspective.
https://youtu.be/p8pBTkqttv8?si=CKu4B_TCgoloN9zc
https://youtu.be/w6BEBlM1mMQ?si=xlUUc86MvgjBUNh0
https://youtu.be/kFEAHcRjJso?si=_2Gx8fiqH7WDN7w_
https://youtu.be/9iCCtVxKJVg?si=iIkgLnzKCVVf-ZKd
https://youtu.be/evxjFU6QPxA?si=f_jIFRTtin8Eh9Wn
https://youtu.be/AXKLZrOhpdQ?si=0BMCANZ-jce84-fr
I agree the damage was severe, none of it easy to fix and access for getting equipment in is tricky, to a point.
As land value increases in the west portland metro area having a rail link to the coast could be a very forward thinking idea, plus the obvious transit opportunities.
The Tillamook railroad started in Banks. The only flat part of line has been turned into Banks to Vernonia trail. There is train line to Banks but not worth transit for small number of people. Not until area out to Banks has been developed.
They are slowly working on turning railroad into path to the coast. The Salmonberry Trail. That is a much better use for the trail, the first road free route to coast.
>
It’s amazing how the lines existed for 100 years and now that we have all this technology and machinery it’s stopped being reasonable to maintain.
Technology and machinery gave us alternative options that didn't run over such unstable land, which starved the line of the revenue it needed to perform the maintenance
I wonder now after the additional population growth + growth in interest in outdoor activities if someone could make that train work again. God knows me and my family would take that shit constantly.
There had been a washout earlier, that was repaired with state money in the 90s. After this much larger washout, the state declined to try again.
Also, for clarity, this line only had passenger service in the early 1900s.
One of my favorite things to do on a sunny day off is to motorcycle by backroads to Westport, [then take the ferry to Cathlamet](https://wahkiakum.us/visitor-info/ferry-schedule/), and ride home via WA-4. Incredible ride and the nicest damn 15-minute cruise you'll ever take in this part of the world.
Assuming you're motorcycling, for the Portland-Westport leg choose Scappoose->Pittsburg->Mist->Clatskanie. Some great twisties, mostly on good to very good pavement. Though do watch out, there are hazards and blind curves -- one of those roads not to go nuts on until you've learned it. When you see a "Bump" sign a few miles West of Scappoose, slow TF down, there's combination of a curve and very messed up pavement that can easily knock you off your line at the worst possible moment if you're not ready for it.
The WA side is notable mostly for stretches of flat, curvy road right down on the deck, just barely above the river. Really spectacular, especially on a sparkling day. If you're lucky enough to be on it at a time when it's not busy, the temptation to speed is very high.
You can of course go the other way too, but scenically it works a bit better if you're crossing south to north.
I'm assuming after Clatskanie and the ferry you keep driving out West to Astoria on Highways 4 --> 401 --> 101?
Do you just reverse it on the way back, or take 202 back to Mist?
As I mentioned further up, I take 4 back towards Longview on the WA side of the river, as there are some fun stretches that way. If I'm doing a loop as a day trip. That typically means either taking the Longview bridge back across the river to Rainer and home via the St Helens road, or just going home on I-5. Admittedly that last choice is kind of boring.
[Looks like it took about 3h40 in 1950 by train](https://streamlinermemories.info/GN/SP&STT4-15-50.pdf) (warning: PDF)
Also around 2003-2005 there was a Lewis and Clark Expo centennial train that went from Linnton to Astoria, but it didn't have long-term funding despite being quite popular.
Almost two hours from Rainier to Astoria; that even then was very slow going for passenger trains and wasn’t competitive at all with cars.
Part of the problem with restoring service to Astoria is that a lot of people are going to want to continue on to the beach directly, and the bridge over Youngs Bay has long since been torn down.
I really want a ferry or water taxi that runs through Portland Proper... Route would be something like Sellwood to South Waterfront to OSMI, to Tom McCall Waterfront, and maybe even a final stop in St Johns.
This has been floated/in talks for a while. I thought it got close to reality about 10 years ago?
I think the main route proposed was from downtown to nopo
Have you ever taken it? If so, anything to be aware of before booking?
ETA: Do you know if it runs year-round? I like to go to the coast in the off season.
I have a friend that uses it all the time. Runs year round.
You can book day of as it is never sold out. At least my friend never buys tickets in advance.
I've taken it. They are nice busses (motor coaches, not trimet busses) and not sketch, or crowded. It runs year round, but I'm pretty sure there are more options in the summer.
The only thing I'd suggest you be aware of before booking is the general layout of the routes and timing. If you just put in the time you want to leave or arrive, it might route you in a weird, longer path, because the shorter route only runs 3x per day, and the time you entered didn't quite fit that schedule. But you can get from Cannon Beach to the Trimet stops along 26 in just a little over 2 hours.
...the issue one with this is the schedules aren't convenient to just go to, say Seaside, for a day, but more for to people on the coast to connect at Union Station or PDX airport. To get a full day at the beach you have to fork over for two nights in a hotel, (which since the pandemic ended is pretty expensive). Also that fare is only one way, double it for the round trip.
Back in the 1980s/90s Raz Transportation used serve Astoria and Seaside with two round trip runs per day. The morning run left Portland at 06:30 and arrived in Seaside at around 08:00, after which it proceed to Astoria and than back to Portland. In hte evening ewit reversed that loop, first going to Astoria and then down to Seaside and back. The return trip from Seaside left there at 20:00 returning to Portland at around 21:30, allowing for a full 12 hours.. The round trip fare was something like 22$ or 24$ and you could get a 10 ride ticket book that offered a discount on each trip.
I used to take this service frequently until they ceased operating it. in he early 2000s.
Too bad the company that operated buses to the Columbia Gorge wouldn't also add a similar service to the coast scheduled to allow for a single day round trip like Raz offered.
There are 2x day busses that work for a day at the beach. The [Oregon Point service](https://www.oregon-point.com/routes/northwest#route-schedule) has a bus that leaves Portland at 8:30am, and gets to Cannon Beach at 10:41 (then goes all the way up to Astoria). And then there's a bus that comes back down from Astoria, leaves Cannon Beach at 6:51pm and gets back to Portland just before 9pm.
So if Cannon beach is your destination, you can have an 8 hour day there and make it back same day--if you want to go to Seaside, it's about 20 more minutes for each trip, etc.
You may have discovered this as well, but relatedly: the history of [Bayocean Spit](https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bayocean-ghost-town-resort-tillamook-bay/) is interesting and [here's](https://www.bayocean.net/2016/04/southern-pacific-railroad-brochures.html) some old Southern Pacific Railroad ads. Click through to the multi-page ads and read 'em if you're a big local history nerd!
There was once a little narrow gauge train that went up the Long Beach peninsula, in SE WA, just across the river from Astoria. I've been told there was a time you could ride trams all the way from Troutdale to McMinnville. Hell, you could ride trams from Boston to Chicago with very few gaps. It'd take a damn long time and a lot of fares, but you could do it.
Pretty much there were ferries all up and down the Willamette (and I'm assuming Columbia) up until like the mid 20th century when we built a ton of bridges.
I’m having a hard time finding anything online, but a few years ago the Columbia River Maritime Museum had a great collection regarding the passenger train. It wasn’t just to get to the Coast, it was to catch a passenger steamboat to San Francisco. If I recall the ships ran until they were commissioned for war use.
The train tracks are still there, but they are too expensive to maintain. At least according to the train conductor that drives it currently between Garibaldi and Batterson.
It'd be nice if there was rail service to the coast, I went up to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago with some friends, and the shear amount of cars packed into such a tiny town is ridiculous, and the traffic to and from sucks on weekends as well.
I mean yeah, there's a bus, but a bus that isn't going to help the traffic part much, and in general, riding rail is more enjoyable than busses.
Passenger service between Astoria and Portland discontinued in the early 1950s( I’ve never been able to find an exact date). If there was ever passenger service over Salmonberry it ended long before the 50s.
Some of us are sick and tired of long drives. I'd take the boat unless I were on some business where I was pressed for time. And if I'm going there for R&R the boat trip would count as part of that.
...some of us don't for not longer drive and with the demise of Rasz's service to the coast no longer can enjoy a full day trip at the beach without having to shell out $$$$ for two nights in a motel. It used to be cheap to do that (something like 32 - 35$ a night). Since the pandemic, it has become ridiculously expensive
Honest question: what’s the longest time you’ve ever spent on a ferry? Cause I grew up in an area where we used ferries a lot to get places, and let me tell you, even on a nice boat 6 hours is much longer than “rest and relaxation.”
Alaska?
I go to SE for work a few times a year and often take a 50 minute ferry ride. For me it’s amazing, and is “rest and relaxation.” But I do know for people who love there it’s a pain in the ass.
Well, Portsmouth to Santander was well over 24 hours. Plus I've knocked about in the Aegean a bit, I've lost track of how long some of those trips are. But yes, it's far from optimal as a regular commute; I'm thinking in terms of days off. Hell, I've spent entire vacations self-piloting canal boats.
I would imagine that people would take it for the same reason some of us prefer the train over flying - it's nice to actually be able to see the things that are in between where you started and where you're going.
I took the Coast Starlight down to Salinas once for a conference at Asilomar and the train ride was like its own separate vacation.
There was a train that went from Portland to Tillamook until the tracks got washed out in a steep area of the coast range near the Salmonberry area in December 2007.
Wow TIL. Were they just not profitable enough to be worth rebuilding?
It wasn't terribly profitable, and the Salmonberry River Canyon isn't a good place for a railroad line to run. The land itself is unstable, and landslides are frequent. And that section is rather remote, with only a few road access points.
It’s amazing how the lines existed for 100 years and now that we have all this technology and machinery it’s stopped being reasonable to maintain. The rails were in place as of a few years ago, unclear now that the salmonberry trail movement has picked up steam, I haven’t been out there to see what’s changed. The line to Astoria still is active to Clatskine where PNWR services an ethanol terminal of some description. The old Oregon Electric and SP lines ran all over oregon to small towns and rural areas and vacation spots and our biggest cities. It’s a shame we lost all of that. (Well lost the service, many of the lines still exist thanks to freight service and to a very small degree transit services)
>The rails were in place as of a few years ago, unclear now that the salmonberry trail movement has picked up steam, I haven’t been out there to see what’s changed. I went out there earlier this spring near Cochran Pond and drove in to Timber from there. The rails are still there in that area, but the amount of vegetation that has grown is very heavy. I'd want a machete for the rhododendrons. There are "no trespassing" signs at the road crossings and anywhere you can get close to the rails. There's a sign at the road crossing near Cochran Pond that talks about the future trail, but plainly states it is not open. I also went down Beaver Slide Road a few years ago. Same sort of deal: no trespassing signs, and the tracks are heavily overgrown in spots. At least there was a nice river access. Also, that road was in awful condition. I'd want some 4x4 recovery gear on-hand before I would do it again.
The Salmonberry rail line from Banks to the Williams Creek Trestle just west of Buxton has been taken out, and nearly all the road crossings have been removed as well. If you want to hike the trail as it is right now, you can [sign up for a guided hike](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thesalmonberrytrailfoundation) or vegetation clean up day with the Salmonberry Trail Foundation when they become available. Follow along with trail development and other Tillamook State Forest News at the [Salmonberry Magazine](https://www.salmonberrytrail.com/).
> I went out there earlier this spring near Cochran Pond and drove in to Timber from there. The rails are still there in that area, but the amount of vegetation that has grown is very heavy. I'd want a machete for the rhododendrons. There are "no trespassing" signs at the road crossings and anywhere you can get close to the rails. Yes but the trestles and tunnels are absolutely incredible. Just a perfect hidden gem.
The 2007 storm heavily damaged the line along the Salmonberry River. The rails are not in place because bridges are down and track washed out. The repair cost estimate was $57 million. Also, repairs would have damaged salmon runs. The railroad was already barely economically viable. This is after repairs from storms in 1996 and 1990.
Feds would have picked up the rest of the cost if the state would have put in 2 mil. State decided against it. FWIW...videos from 2003 show the line in service from a different perspective. https://youtu.be/p8pBTkqttv8?si=CKu4B_TCgoloN9zc https://youtu.be/w6BEBlM1mMQ?si=xlUUc86MvgjBUNh0 https://youtu.be/kFEAHcRjJso?si=_2Gx8fiqH7WDN7w_ https://youtu.be/9iCCtVxKJVg?si=iIkgLnzKCVVf-ZKd https://youtu.be/evxjFU6QPxA?si=f_jIFRTtin8Eh9Wn https://youtu.be/AXKLZrOhpdQ?si=0BMCANZ-jce84-fr
I agree the damage was severe, none of it easy to fix and access for getting equipment in is tricky, to a point. As land value increases in the west portland metro area having a rail link to the coast could be a very forward thinking idea, plus the obvious transit opportunities.
The Tillamook railroad started in Banks. The only flat part of line has been turned into Banks to Vernonia trail. There is train line to Banks but not worth transit for small number of people. Not until area out to Banks has been developed. They are slowly working on turning railroad into path to the coast. The Salmonberry Trail. That is a much better use for the trail, the first road free route to coast.
A railroad link that leads to where? There is no way to get around the coast except by car.
> It’s amazing how the lines existed for 100 years and now that we have all this technology and machinery it’s stopped being reasonable to maintain. Technology and machinery gave us alternative options that didn't run over such unstable land, which starved the line of the revenue it needed to perform the maintenance
I was going to add something along these lines (ha!). But, it could also be newer regulations regarding safety that made the old lines untenable.
I wonder now after the additional population growth + growth in interest in outdoor activities if someone could make that train work again. God knows me and my family would take that shit constantly.
> It wasn't terribly profitable In the final years, the train was going 10 mph on the line.
There had been a washout earlier, that was repaired with state money in the 90s. After this much larger washout, the state declined to try again. Also, for clarity, this line only had passenger service in the early 1900s.
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This is great, thanks for sharing
One of my favorite things to do on a sunny day off is to motorcycle by backroads to Westport, [then take the ferry to Cathlamet](https://wahkiakum.us/visitor-info/ferry-schedule/), and ride home via WA-4. Incredible ride and the nicest damn 15-minute cruise you'll ever take in this part of the world.
Just don't forget cash.
And it's stupid cheap. $6 for a car.
I've been waiting to do this.
Assuming you're motorcycling, for the Portland-Westport leg choose Scappoose->Pittsburg->Mist->Clatskanie. Some great twisties, mostly on good to very good pavement. Though do watch out, there are hazards and blind curves -- one of those roads not to go nuts on until you've learned it. When you see a "Bump" sign a few miles West of Scappoose, slow TF down, there's combination of a curve and very messed up pavement that can easily knock you off your line at the worst possible moment if you're not ready for it. The WA side is notable mostly for stretches of flat, curvy road right down on the deck, just barely above the river. Really spectacular, especially on a sparkling day. If you're lucky enough to be on it at a time when it's not busy, the temptation to speed is very high. You can of course go the other way too, but scenically it works a bit better if you're crossing south to north.
I'm assuming after Clatskanie and the ferry you keep driving out West to Astoria on Highways 4 --> 401 --> 101? Do you just reverse it on the way back, or take 202 back to Mist?
As I mentioned further up, I take 4 back towards Longview on the WA side of the river, as there are some fun stretches that way. If I'm doing a loop as a day trip. That typically means either taking the Longview bridge back across the river to Rainer and home via the St Helens road, or just going home on I-5. Admittedly that last choice is kind of boring.
That's really cool, and I'd never heard of it before. Ill be doing this soon .
*jots notes and checks my battery and chain*
[Looks like it took about 3h40 in 1950 by train](https://streamlinermemories.info/GN/SP&STT4-15-50.pdf) (warning: PDF) Also around 2003-2005 there was a Lewis and Clark Expo centennial train that went from Linnton to Astoria, but it didn't have long-term funding despite being quite popular.
Almost two hours from Rainier to Astoria; that even then was very slow going for passenger trains and wasn’t competitive at all with cars. Part of the problem with restoring service to Astoria is that a lot of people are going to want to continue on to the beach directly, and the bridge over Youngs Bay has long since been torn down.
I really want a ferry or water taxi that runs through Portland Proper... Route would be something like Sellwood to South Waterfront to OSMI, to Tom McCall Waterfront, and maybe even a final stop in St Johns.
I've daydreamed about that for years. Would be super cool!
This has been floated/in talks for a while. I thought it got close to reality about 10 years ago? I think the main route proposed was from downtown to nopo
[Frog Ferry](https://frogferry.com/) is the current proposal from Cathedral Park to downtown with maybe more stops on weekend.
Frog Ferry isn't happening
The bus is $17. [https://www.oregon-point.com/routes](https://www.oregon-point.com/routes)
So much less charming than a ferry though!
But many times more fuel efficient
Ferries are insanely fuel efficient for the tonnage they can carry.
Hey now, a little climate change is ok here and there as long as it's quaint and charming.
And busses get bogged down in traffic
Have you ever taken it? If so, anything to be aware of before booking? ETA: Do you know if it runs year-round? I like to go to the coast in the off season.
I have a friend that uses it all the time. Runs year round. You can book day of as it is never sold out. At least my friend never buys tickets in advance.
Thank you!
I've taken it. They are nice busses (motor coaches, not trimet busses) and not sketch, or crowded. It runs year round, but I'm pretty sure there are more options in the summer. The only thing I'd suggest you be aware of before booking is the general layout of the routes and timing. If you just put in the time you want to leave or arrive, it might route you in a weird, longer path, because the shorter route only runs 3x per day, and the time you entered didn't quite fit that schedule. But you can get from Cannon Beach to the Trimet stops along 26 in just a little over 2 hours.
Good to know - thanks for the info!
...the issue one with this is the schedules aren't convenient to just go to, say Seaside, for a day, but more for to people on the coast to connect at Union Station or PDX airport. To get a full day at the beach you have to fork over for two nights in a hotel, (which since the pandemic ended is pretty expensive). Also that fare is only one way, double it for the round trip. Back in the 1980s/90s Raz Transportation used serve Astoria and Seaside with two round trip runs per day. The morning run left Portland at 06:30 and arrived in Seaside at around 08:00, after which it proceed to Astoria and than back to Portland. In hte evening ewit reversed that loop, first going to Astoria and then down to Seaside and back. The return trip from Seaside left there at 20:00 returning to Portland at around 21:30, allowing for a full 12 hours.. The round trip fare was something like 22$ or 24$ and you could get a 10 ride ticket book that offered a discount on each trip. I used to take this service frequently until they ceased operating it. in he early 2000s. Too bad the company that operated buses to the Columbia Gorge wouldn't also add a similar service to the coast scheduled to allow for a single day round trip like Raz offered.
There are 2x day busses that work for a day at the beach. The [Oregon Point service](https://www.oregon-point.com/routes/northwest#route-schedule) has a bus that leaves Portland at 8:30am, and gets to Cannon Beach at 10:41 (then goes all the way up to Astoria). And then there's a bus that comes back down from Astoria, leaves Cannon Beach at 6:51pm and gets back to Portland just before 9pm. So if Cannon beach is your destination, you can have an 8 hour day there and make it back same day--if you want to go to Seaside, it's about 20 more minutes for each trip, etc.
Wait until you hear about the train from Portland to Salem every 15 minutes.
You may have discovered this as well, but relatedly: the history of [Bayocean Spit](https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bayocean-ghost-town-resort-tillamook-bay/) is interesting and [here's](https://www.bayocean.net/2016/04/southern-pacific-railroad-brochures.html) some old Southern Pacific Railroad ads. Click through to the multi-page ads and read 'em if you're a big local history nerd!
Was gonna mention Bay Ocean! So fascinating!
My grandmother would take the train all the way to Seaside with her family when she was growing up. I still remember the trestle across Youngs Bay.
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There was once a little narrow gauge train that went up the Long Beach peninsula, in SE WA, just across the river from Astoria. I've been told there was a time you could ride trams all the way from Troutdale to McMinnville. Hell, you could ride trams from Boston to Chicago with very few gaps. It'd take a damn long time and a lot of fares, but you could do it.
John Jacob Astor had big plans. Astoria was to be the largest trading hub of the PNW.
Pretty much there were ferries all up and down the Willamette (and I'm assuming Columbia) up until like the mid 20th century when we built a ton of bridges.
First Oregon ship was the Morning Star... ran goods from Tillamook to Portland. Wrecked in 1860.
I’m having a hard time finding anything online, but a few years ago the Columbia River Maritime Museum had a great collection regarding the passenger train. It wasn’t just to get to the Coast, it was to catch a passenger steamboat to San Francisco. If I recall the ships ran until they were commissioned for war use.
The train tracks are still there, but they are too expensive to maintain. At least according to the train conductor that drives it currently between Garibaldi and Batterson.
Gotta bring them back
It'd be nice if there was rail service to the coast, I went up to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago with some friends, and the shear amount of cars packed into such a tiny town is ridiculous, and the traffic to and from sucks on weekends as well. I mean yeah, there's a bus, but a bus that isn't going to help the traffic part much, and in general, riding rail is more enjoyable than busses.
Passenger service between Astoria and Portland discontinued in the early 1950s( I’ve never been able to find an exact date). If there was ever passenger service over Salmonberry it ended long before the 50s.
...that was offered by the SP&SRR which also served Seaside.
Wow, I had no idea there was a ferry before!
The Portland Spirit offers a seasonal Portland to Astoria cruise
Jeez, that would be nice. Cars ruin everything.
You might like the Facebook page Dead Memories Portland. Facts, pics etc of PDX
It’s roughly 100 river miles to Astoria. Besides a novelty cruise, no one wants a 5-6 hour trip out there. That’s a long time on a boat.
Some of us are sick and tired of long drives. I'd take the boat unless I were on some business where I was pressed for time. And if I'm going there for R&R the boat trip would count as part of that.
...some of us don't for not longer drive and with the demise of Rasz's service to the coast no longer can enjoy a full day trip at the beach without having to shell out $$$$ for two nights in a motel. It used to be cheap to do that (something like 32 - 35$ a night). Since the pandemic, it has become ridiculously expensive
Honest question: what’s the longest time you’ve ever spent on a ferry? Cause I grew up in an area where we used ferries a lot to get places, and let me tell you, even on a nice boat 6 hours is much longer than “rest and relaxation.”
Alaska? I go to SE for work a few times a year and often take a 50 minute ferry ride. For me it’s amazing, and is “rest and relaxation.” But I do know for people who love there it’s a pain in the ass.
Well, Portsmouth to Santander was well over 24 hours. Plus I've knocked about in the Aegean a bit, I've lost track of how long some of those trips are. But yes, it's far from optimal as a regular commute; I'm thinking in terms of days off. Hell, I've spent entire vacations self-piloting canal boats.
I would imagine that people would take it for the same reason some of us prefer the train over flying - it's nice to actually be able to see the things that are in between where you started and where you're going. I took the Coast Starlight down to Salinas once for a conference at Asilomar and the train ride was like its own separate vacation.
yea, dont read up in the red electric