It does make sense, at least to me, to have a daylight train from Sacramento to Oregon. I find it hard to believe 6,000 passengers getting on and off in Dunsmuir, last year, considering the arrival times for the northbound and southbound Starlight.
Dunsmuir would be a nice hopping off point for many destinations in Northern Calif. and Southern Oregon. I think Caltrains once thought of a train from Sacramento to the north, but I don't think UP would ever go for it. Possibly a Cascade train if both Calif. and Oregon would help to finance the project?
The reference to the "Republic of Jefferson" is interesting. Four counties in Southern Oregon and three in Northern Calif. wanted to form their own state, back in 1941. They even had their own state flag.