In December 1955 major flooding in the Susan River Canyon did considerable damage to the Southern Pacific’s rail line. With the pending closure of Fruit Growers Westwood mill in 1956, railroad officials decided not to make any repairs, since there were be little if any traffic. The line was closed from Mason Station to Susanville, but not abandoned. Theoretically, if someone wanted to ship something by rail from Susanville to Westwood, or vice-versa Southern Pacific was obligated and could only charge the railroad freight rate between the two places. On the other hand it would be costly for the railroad to pay a third party to make the delivery.
In 1976, the Southern Pacific filed for the abandonment of this segment of the line. The foundation was laid for the rails to trails conversion to become what is informally known as the “Bizz.”