The Skunk

A postcard from 1965.

The more appealing livery that the railcar appears in today.

A gasoline-powered, self propelled, passenger railcar from 1925. These motorcars were nicknamed "Skunks" because people said "You can smell 'em before you can see 'em."

Today it just one item of an impressive fleet of preserved equipment on the California Western Railroad or CWR, popularly called the Skunk Train, a heritage railroad in Mendocino County, California.

The CWR runs steam and diesel-powered trains 40 miles (64 km) through Redwood forests along Pudding Creek and the Noyo River. Along the way, the tracks cross some 30 bridges and trestles and pass through two deep mountain tunnels. The halfway point of Northspur is a popular meals and beverage spot for the railroad's passengers when locomotives turn around before returning trains to their respective terminals.  Website