Dispatch

dedicated to tfu tUstoric preservation and/or modeling of the former C^CStfP&T/Mitw. 'Lines "West' Volume 4, Issue No. 2 April 1991 - The - By Art Jacobsen

History & Operations South of Tacoma,

- Part I - This feature has been de• major port for the region at that time. 1905 as the , Milwaukee & St. layed from previous issues due (in The NP's charter was amended on Paul Ry. of Washington. part) to a lack of research materials April 13, 1869 allowing the railroad to The NP had already been available on this area. However, - be built from Puget Sound to Portland established south from "Bcoma for MILWEST - member Tom Burg and then eastward up the Columbia over three decades, and the O- provided additional information for Gorge. Two years later 25 miles of WRR&N was not in a financial posi• this Part from various issues of the track had been built between the tion to be of much immediate help. former employee's magazine. There is present site of Kalama and the Cowlitz Therefore, the CM&StP Ry. of Wash• still much that should be covered, and River crossing (south of Vader). The ington had two choices for any poten• any member who has more research following year the track entered the tial connections in that area. The first materials available is encouraged to Yelm Prairie in the Nisqually valley; was to build its own lines, and the contact the Managing Editor for fu• and despite the financial panic and second involved acquiring existing ture "follow-up" items. related labor troubles of 1873, the NP shortlines not already under NP's First some background on was at T&coma by the end of that control. The end result was a combi• this general area - which encompasses year. The track across the Columbia nation of-both, and involved the use of the lines of the former Income East• River from Kalama at Goble, Oregon "front" companies as well. Within a ern RR.(TE), Pacific & Eastern was completed to Portland by Septem• decade of incorporating the CM&StP Ry.(P&E)/Puget Sound & Willapa ber, 1883. Over the next quarter- Ry. of Washington, the Chicago, Mil• Harbor Ry.(PS&WH), and Chicago, century the NP remained as virtually waukee & St. Paul Ry. was firmly Milwaukee & Puget Sound Ry. the only railroad operating between established in T&coma and southwest• (CM&PS) lines south of 'fecoma Portland and the Puget Sound. ern Washington. It and its successors C.1890 - 1912. The geographic cover• The NP's monopoly was would remain there over the next age is roughly from T&coma to Port• eventually ended through a combina• sixty-five years. The first of the moves land and from Mt. Rainier and the tion of efforts by both the Union bringing what became The MILWAU• west slope of the Cascades to Grays Pacific's Oregon-Washington RR & KEE ROAD into this area was the Harbor and Willapa Bay on the Pacific Navigation Co. (O-WRR&N) and the acquisition of the T&coma Eastern Coast. This is an area of dense forests MILWAUKEE ROAD. The UP had RR. interspersed with open meadows and been established in Portland as the The Tacoma Eastern RR. swamps. The area developed into an former Oregon RR & Navigation Co. was incorporated on July 11,1890 and agricultural setting following the de• (which had been under the influence was essentially intended to be and cline of fur trade in the mid-1800's. It of UP interests since 1887-89). The constructed as a logging railroad. The has been the scene of intense logging O-WRR&N attempted to build its first section of track was built south and forest products industries for the own line between Vancouver, Wash• up a dry wash from a connection with past century. ington and Puget Sound in April, 1890 the NP at Tacoma. The line reached The first railroad into the under a subsidiary known as the Port• Bismarck, now known as Hillsdale, but area was the Northern Pacific, which land & Puget Sound Ry. This scheme further construction came to a halt had been chartered on July 2, 1864 to came to an end when the O-WRR&N when the financial Panic of 1893 set build a railway from Lake Superior to ran into financial difficulties the fol• in. Then in 1900 a Wisconsin lumber- the Puget Sound. Portland, Oregon lowing year. The MILWAUKEE ar• rived on the scene on October 13, had already been established as the (Continued on page 2) MilWest Dispatch Page 2 as it had been in a very poor condi• years later the TE built a 2-mile spur MILWAUKEE tion. westerly ft-om T&nwax Jet. at MR 20.8 The following year the tracks on the Ashford/Morton line. This was (Continued from page I) were at Kapowsin, and by 1902 the the last such construction done under man, John Bagley, arrived in T&coma TE was at Clay City (about halfway to the TE as it was absorbed by the and purchased the TE. Eatonville from Kapowsin). By the CM&StP Ry. on December 31, 1918. Construction resumed that middle of 1903 the grade was extend• The CM&PS also provided year and rails reached Clover Creek, ed t)eyond La Grande, on July 4th of access to for the O-WRR&N seven miles southeasterly of Bismarck, that year the first train ran to Eaton• from T&coma. The O-WRR&N had near the present site of Fredrickson. ville (32.6 mi. from the TE's T&coma been engaged in a long battle to gain The original T&coma - Bismarck sec• station) and back. entry to the Puget Sound, and was in tion was also completely reconstructed One year to the day the first the process of building a paralleling TE train ran to Eatonville, their first route to the NP's Cascade main line train arrived at Elbe. Grading pro• from Villard Jet. (southeast of Pasco) ceeded easterly and by the end of the up the Yakima Valley. Complicating MilWest Management year the 18.5 miles was completed this was the construction of what be• MllWest la a Washington Suie non-proHt corporation founded in October, 1987. It serves to preserve and from La Grande to Ashford. A two came the SP&S and Oregon H-unk promote the history of the (former) CM&PS, CM&StP, mile branch between Kapowsin and Ry.'s. After complex negotiations one CMStP&P. MILW Unes WfcsL of the results was a trackage-rights Annual membership is based on the calendar year, cost Electron was also added that same JiaOO (US), and is due no later than January 1. Please year (1904). By 1905 the TE extend• agreement between NP and the O- make all remittances payable to 'MilWest" and send to ed 4.1 miles south from Park Jet. to WRR&N over the former's Portland - the Secretary. Persons joining during a year will receive "Bcoma line. In return for leasing all issues of the Dispatch for that year. Other back Mineral, and had two lines from that issues are available from the Secretary. latter community in 1906. The first the CM&PS's 26.3 mile T&coma Jet. - was a 6.5 mile extension southwards to Black River Jet. main (effective date The MilWest Dispatch welcomes contributions of non• Jan. 1, 1909), the O-WRR&N leased copyrighted articles, photos, and other reproducible Tilton, and the other a 3 mile spur material for publication, with the understanding that no westerly to Ladd (by way of East the former running rights on the payment of any kind will be made for their use. All Creek Jet.). This latter and the Ash• Grays Harbor line between Helsing material for publication should be sent to the Managing Editor. If possible, please double-space type all manu• ford line were originally built for local Jet. and Aberdeen. This latter 44.5 scripts. coal mine developments. The TE miles of track was built/acquired by added another 2.7 miles between the OWRR&N in 1907-08. The 4.7 Copyright 1991 by MilWest Reproduction in whole or Tilton and Glenavon in 1907. miles of trackage rights over the NP in part by permission only. to Hoquiam came in 1911. If you move, please notify the Secretary of your new While the TE was still under address promptly. construction, Bagley was visiting old The CM&PS was also inter• friends and business associates back in ested in access to the large forest pro• Whom do I contact? his native Wisconsin. At the same ducts operations being developed by time he also paid a visit to the Chica• the Weyerhauser Timber Co. on Matters pertaining to MilWest policy, annual meetings, go, Milwaukee & St. Paul (CM&StP) Willapa (pronounced "WILL-uh-puh") etc., contact the General Manager. Ry.'s headquarters in Chicago. Ap• Bay. • During the same year that the Payment of dues, membership applications and inquiries, parently he obtained additional financ• TE was building into the Tilton River non-receipt of the Dispatch, address changes, back ing for the TE's continuing expansion valley to Glenavon (1907), the first issues, contact the Secretary. in return for an option to the CM&- part of what became the Willapa Har• StP for acquiring the line. This fol• bor line was constructed. This was General Manager, Art Jacobsen lowed the "St. Paul Road's" (as it was built by the Pacific & Eastern Ry. 1870 Easy Street known then) formal announcement to (P&E), which had been incorporated Helena, MT 59601-1172 build to the Puget Sound in Novem• on October 22 of the previous year. Ass't General Manager, Ed Lynch ber, 1905. The line originated at 4001 5th Ave. North The TE struck southwesterly Willapa on the then just-completed Great Falls, MT 59401 from Salsich Jet. (about 1/4 of a mi. NP's branch to Raymond. This initial• Secretary, Ron Hamilton north of Fredrickson) 15.3 miles to ly involved 8.6 miles of track ascending 2506 Fissure Loop North McKenna in 1908. The following year along the north side of the Willapa Redmond, OR 97756 the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget River and Mill Creek valleys to a Ti-easurer, Rick Yaremko Sound Ry. (CM&PS) leased the TE connection with a logging railroad at P 116 DeerCross Road SE after completing 28.4 miles of its own & E Jet. The Willapa River was Calgary, AB, Canada T2J 6G7 main line between T&coma and Black crossed by a cable ferry from the small Staff Assistant, Kirk Petty River Jet. The TE added 8 miles of community with the same name. RO. Box 423 its southern extension from Cowlitz Initially the P&E appears to have Ranchester, WY 82839 Jet. Gust north of Glenavon) to Mor• been an independent short line, in• Staff Assistant, Phil Kresik ton the following year. The CM&PS tended to bring logs from the west 20903 80th Place West also added 33.2 miles on to the Mc• slope of the Coast Range to an exist• Edmonds, WA 98020 Kenna branch for a connection with ing line (NP). In that regard it was Managing Editor, Rocky Gibbs the O-WRR&N's Grays Harbor line analogous to the TE's beginnings prior 444 W. 15th Ave. at Helsing Jet., which was in service by Spotone, WA 99203-2110 August that same year (1910). Two (Continued on page 3) April 1991 Page 3 PS&WH built a barge slip on the MILWAUKEE Willapa River and operated two 2-car barges between Raymond and South "DFW" (Continued from page 2) Bend for lumber and oyster business This column serves for miscellaneous news items about the former MILWAUKEE ROADs operation. Like the to the turn of the century. The NP on an "as-needed" basis. Cars at symbot for 'Dead Frei^ - West' it utilizes, the subjects did not acquire the P&E nor the TE South Bend were moved on and off found here are a 'catch-alT from a variety of sources. for reasons related to a lack of finan• the barges by means of a steam (later cial resources during those times (lar• electric) winch. In a recent discussion between John gely due to commitments to other These additions to the Jackman of the US Forest Service at projects). PS&WH in 1915 completed the line, Superior, MT, and Ed Lynch, the fol• Less than seven years after and it was formally absorbed by the lowing facts were revealed: the P&E's incorporation it became a CM&StP Ry. at the same time as the part of the expanding MILWAUKEE TE (December 31, 1918). The cov• This summer the MILW grade be• system. In order to prevent specula• ered Howe wood-truss bridges re• tween Haugen, MT and St. Paul Pass tors from inflating the price of land mained in use for the next half-centu• will be made impassable due to liabili• along the route (as well as the acquir• ry. Examples of these were built near ty problems. ing the P&E), the CM&PS gained Sumner, McKenna, and Helsing Jet. access to the region through the use by the CM&PS, and near Chehalis, Dominion Creek bridge, #DD-198 at of "front" companies - the Puget Dryad, Willapa, and Raymond by the mp 1745.5, will have the end panels Sound & Willapa Harbor Ry. (PS&W- PS&WH when a span of lOO'to 150' removed and concrete (Jersey Rail) H) and the "Olympia Southern Ry." was required. Covered Howe truss barricades will be installed to keep all (OS). The P&E was acquired by the bridges were also constructed on the vehicles off the bridge. This bridge is former on May 1, 1913, the PS&WH Everett and Enumclaw branches (as on a 10 degree curve, 253 feet long, 2 having been incorporated on April 9 well as on two branches in Montana). span deck girder with concrete abut• that year. The OS was also incorpo• Tbday one still survives over the Che• ments. Dominion Creek Tunnel #19, rated on June 27, 1913, but never halis River near Doty - bridge #WH- mp 1745.6, will also be closed off with actually had any trackage constructed 60 was at MilePost 37.8 on the Jersey Rail barricades. under its name. It was merely a "pa• PS&WH line from Maytown. It re• per railway" device used to acquire mained in use until the track was 8,711 foot long St. Paul Pass tunnel Right-of-Way for the PS&WH, and removed on this portion of the line #20 at mp 1749.2, between East Por• was deeded to same less than three (from Dryad Jet. to Raymond) by tal, MT and Roland, ID will be dyna• months later (on September 16)! 1972. - Art Jacobsen mited shut at both ends. The PS&WH had completed 38.5 miles of track from the CM&PS This feature will be continued This Spring will be your last chance to at Maytown (on the latter's McKenna with Part II in the July 1991 Dispatch. see this section of MILW grade all in - Helsing Jet. line) to Doty on the east one piece. Right now it is possible to slope of the Coast Range the following drive the grade from just west of St. year. By 1915 the PS&WH had built Regis, MT to East Portal, (driving the 16.1 mile extension over the sum• NEW MEMBERS over Dominion Creek bridge is offi• mit (el. 603') at MacPhail to P & E cially prohibited by the Forest Ser• Jet. (which was later renamed Sutico). We welcome the following new members vice). They plan this work for some• The cable ferry crossing the Willapa who have joined MilWest for 1991. time in June so better see it now if River was replaced by a 250' wooden you wish to. pile trestle with a covered Howe truss Alberton Valley Assoc., Alberton MT span in the middle. Robert Avritt, Great Falls MT Art Jacobsen reports that the Mon• The track was extended an John Balock, Melstone MT ] tana Highway Dept. will remove some additional 2.75 miles from Willapa to Dennis Beeghly, Sparks NV MILW bridges this summer. a new connection with the NP on the Alfred Butler, Newman Lake WA northwest side of Raymond at that Michael Denuty, Spokane WA Bridge #DD-134 at mp 1666.8, built same time. This involved a nearly Steve Engstrom, Great Falls MT in 1909, located at East Soudan (also mile-long (231-span!) pile trestle with Dan Harper, St Helena CA called 9-mile) crosses over the old US a covered wooden Howe truss in the Kevin McCray, Clancy MT Hwy 10. It is a 90 foot long deck center crossing the Willapa Slough just Patrick McGinnis, Edmond OK girder with 2 77 foot concrete ap• east of Raymond. By building the line Joel King, Helena MT proaches. It will be completely re• around the north side of Raymond, David McNeil, Osburn ID moved. the PS&WH was able to secure po• James Mitchell, Lees Summit MO , tential harbor frontage along the Wil• Scott Olson, Billings MT Bridge #DD-138, concrete overpass lapa River, as well as access to the Harry Power, North Plainfield NJ over old US Hwy 10 between Soudan large Weyerhauser sawmill at the line's Ryan Reed, I^ennewick WA and Alberton, mp 1669.7 will be re• end. By then the NP had already Kelly Shields, Moscow ID moved. This overpass was built in extended its own line three miles Rollin Zawistowski, Lake Oswego OR 1930 and will most likely be replaced southwest to South Bend. The with dirt fill. (Continued on page 8) MilWest Dispatch Page 4 this aspect of the former "Lines West"! them at: Box 622, Hariowton, MT One of the many interesting descrip• 59036. Dues are $5.00/ year, or Olympiangram tions is about the Fairbanks-Morse "C- $25.00 for a "life" membership, The title of this section derives from the former newsletter liner" units (CFA/B-16-4's) slow speed (information from Herman Murch, for passengers on the 'Olympian (trains No. 15/16) west from Hariowton, Montana. Published in Lewistown, characteristics. Another deals with H-easurer C-CDC, Hariowton) Montana between 1910 and 1918, it provided the latest Bill's only experience on Baldwin AS- wire-service news of the day. 616's on a w/b from Marmarth to The Montana Rail Link (MRL) has The ex-MILWAUKEE ROAD depot Miles City c.1965! acquired a former MILWAUKEE at Bozeman, Montana (former "GV" ROAD diesel. This is E-9A (MILW line m/p 38.1) was "torched" by two The description of the GP-30 acquisi• class 24EP) #37-C, EMD #26567, boys on March 9. There was exten• tion, however, falls a bit short of Bill's delivered on May 25, 1961. This was sive internal damage and the roof over usual high standards for accuracy. one of six such units built for Chicago the south end has partly collapsed; This is due to the complexity of the - Rockford - SouthEastern Wisconsin the rest will probably be demolished. story - which involved a "three-way" suburban service and equipped with The depot was vacant, but remained trade between ALCO S-2 switchers Cummins HEP generators (instead of more-or-less intact and was intended and RS-3 road switchers, and the GP- boilers). These units were always used to be part of a potential "historic dis• 30's. Essentially what happened was in former "Lines East" territories, and trict" scheme. The property is under the S-2's were the trade-ins for the were leased to Chicago's NorthWest CMC (Chicago - Milwaukee Corp., Geeps, but the latter got AAR type Mass T-ansit District (NWMTD) in holding company for MILW's post- "B" trucks from RS-3's (which in turn 1976 (and maintained by MILW un• "embargo" properties) ownership. received the "Blunt" switcher trucks der contract). It had been stored by from the S-2's and were subsequently the NWMTD, now "Metra", for the The brick one-story structure was built "downrated" in hp. output)! past five or six years. for the Gallatin Valley Railway in 1908-09. After the CMStP&P ended A shorter version of the text with 3 The #37-C was sold by a Chicago the OVER'S electric operations, the photos appeared in the January 3, area scrap dealer, and arrived at Liv• depot was leased for use as a cream• 1991 issue of the "T-C". This may still ingston on February 20. It is currently ery between c.1935 and c.1950. Lo• be available at SLOO/copy (U.S., post stored on the east side of the former cated between S. Plum and Wallace age-paid), as are all three of Bill's NP/BN shop there (owned by the St.'s - about half a block south of other booklets: E-57B @ $7.50 Livingston Rebuild Center, LRC, since Main St., the building had last been (U.S.); the EM Westinghouse Mo• 1988). The unit is in rather poor used for storage by a scrap dealer tors: or the L-class Mikados for condition (very rusty, and most of its until c.1985. The last MILW train by $3.00(U.S.)/each (U.S.p.pd.). windows are broken), but it's still the depot was in late April, 1978, painted the UP scheme with "The while the track (which was electrified The Hariowton depot has been under• MILWAUKEE ROAD" lettering (her• for about three decades after it was going a restoration since last Fall. - alds are removed) and (apparently) laid) was removed by BN in late Octo• MILWEST - members that attended intact internally. The unit is to be ber, 1987. (information on the fire our Third Annual MEET there may restored and painted at LRC as MRL was supplied by - MILWEST - mem• recall that this building was in a rather power for Dennis ^shington's fleet ber D. Larry Zeutschel) deteriorated condition in August, of passenger cars. These include the 1989. Although the brick platform MRL #100 - business car "Silver - MILWEST - member Bill Wilkerson was re-moved in 1981, and tracks Cloud" (an ex-CRI&P coach rebuilt in has another new booklet on MILW removed from the yard by 1983, the Missoula in 1988-1990). Two baggage motive power. Titled MILWAUKEE building itself has remained intact. cars (ex-AT&SF), and an ex-SAL/ DIESELS 1929 - 1985, it's available The exterior walls have now been SCL coach arrived on MRL in Janu• from the "Times-Clarion", Box 307, painted a whitewash "primer coat", ary, which will all be rebuilt to match Hariowton, MT 59036 for $6.35 with the weeds and assorted trash the "Silver Cloud", (current #37-C (U.S., postage-paid). The booklet is a cleaned-out from around the struc• condition information from - MIL- softbound with 40 pages, 26 photos, ture. WEST - members Jack Dorsey, Tbm and two artwork illustrations. It cov• Miller, and D. Larry Zeutschel; MRL ers the 1941 - 1985 time period, and A track is being relaid in front of the passenger car information from - features all the various types that the building, and plans have been made to MILWEST - member Al Burns) CMStP&P/MILW used. It begins and acquire both the former Deer Lodge ends with switchers - from the first "extension-cord" hostler unit #X3800 Tom Radoman reports that the Rarus types used on the "Beer Line" in Mil• (owned by - MILWEST - member Ry. is now using GP-7 #301, ex-NP waukee and Chicago industrial track• Don Redmond in Bozeman), and the #1634, ex-BN #560, last owned by age c.1935 - to the MP-15's of Spring, ex-MILW snowplow north of Ringling Bruce Butler of Spokane. The unit 1976. on the former WSS&YP Ry.'s "wye". was shopped at Livingston and the The depot restoration is an undertak• nose was chopped. It has been paint• Bill's detailed explanations of diesel ing of the City - County Development ed in the same color scheme as the locomotive operations make this an• Committee (C-CDC), and anyone BA&P GP-38's, and lettered for the other must for anyone interested in interested in joining this (obviously important) venture should contact (Continued on page 6) April 1991 Page 5 diesel service (in the form of the Fair• quired a full two days t)etween Mo- "Olympian l-iiawatha banks-Morse chrome-nose "Erie-built" bridge and Tacoma. The all-new Anniversary" ABA sets) and all-new streamlined "OLYMPIAN HIAWATHAs" reduced By Art Jacobsen cars. Except for Pullman-built 10- "Lines West" running times almost a roomette/6-bedroom sleepers and 8- full six hours. T&king into account Last March (1990) marked bedroom/lounge "Skytop" observations there was a time-change of one hour the tenth year since The MILWAU• these were all "home-made" rolling at Avery (between the Mountain and KEE ROAD ceased operations west of stock. There were six complete trains Pacific time zones), the running times Miles City, Montana. On May 24, of baggage-dormitory (for dining car- for these two trains were as follows: 1991 three decades will have passed crews)/four coaches/diner/"'I^p- since the MILWs train #15, the Lounge-Grille"/two '"Iburalux" section- Time Period #15 (w/b) #16 (e/b) Remaria August, 1912 48:25 48:00 (all-steam powered) "OLYMPIAN " departed sleepers/10-6 Pullman/"Skytop" Pull• June, 1922 4800 48:20 (steam or electric Seattle's Union Station, and tied-up at man-lounge consists. The ""Bp- powered) their "new" T&coma depot. The day Lounge-Grille" and "Iburalux" sleep• August, 1938 38:13 38:45 (rir.brgs. & some new cars) before, May 23, 1961, the last #16 to ers were the MILW's own designs, June, 1950 32:35 32:05 (all-new cars) + arrive in Deer Lodge marked the end although the latter were 14-section April, 1955 32:15 31:40* (#17/18 to Marm- of almost exactly half a century of sleepers similar to the standard "hea• arth, only) CM&PS/CM&StP/CMStP&P's pas• vyweight" types built three decades April, 1960 31:50" 32:20 (all-diesel powered) senger service from the Puget Sound. earlier. The "Skytop" design was +(used all three types of power diesel; electric; and steam) This began what Jim Scribbins called". based on the lounge cars the MILW '(best running times scheduled between Mobridge and .. the decade of discontinued passen• built for "Lines East" service on the tacoma) ger trains." at the end of the "OLYM• "Morning" and "Afternoon Hiawathas". PIAN HIAWATHA" chapter in his The Pullman-built versions for the The"01ympian"/"0LYMPIAN book - . "OLYMPIAN HIAWATHAS" used HIAWATHA'S" approximate running more glass, and featured the train's distance between Mobridge and Taco• The predecessor subsidiary name in chrome over the trim from ma was 1422 miles. This also takes of The MILWAUKEE ROADs former the end marker light. into account that between Black River "Lines West", the Chicago, Milwauliee Jet. and Seattle #15/16 operated over & Puget Sound Rji (CM&PS), inaug• The old "Olympians" were about ten miles of the same trackage urated daily "through" passenger ser• renumbered to #17/18 and renamed twice. Also both these trains and the vice beginning July 16, 1910. First- the "Columbians" while retaining their #17/18 were towed from their obser• class transcontinental service began on former "heavyweight" and horizontal- vation cars be-tween Seattle and "Bco- May 28,1911 with trains #15/16 - the rib consists. These were discontinued ma as these terminals were "stub" "Olympians", and #17/18 - the "Col• west of Avery in late 1954, and the types. Even the route was not entirely umbians". The trains were powered "OLYMPIAN HIAWATHAs" added over MILW's as the trains ran on the by then-brand-new class 4-6-2's RPO-Express and other extra "head• Pacific Coast RR. between Maple and were the first Chicago - Puget end" cars. The "T&p-Lounge-Grilles" Valley (CMStP&P MR 2154.1) and Sound "varnish" featuring electric were re-placed by another set of Pull• Argo (MR 2172.3), and on OWR• lighting. Within the decade both man-built rolling stock - the "Super R&N (UP) trackage between Argo trains were powered by electric loco• Domes" two years t)efore then. By and Seattle's Union Station (MR motives between Hariowton and 1955 trains #L7/18 terminated/ origi• 2175.9). Avery, and between Othello and Seat• nated at the Trans-Missouri division tle and l&coma. The #15/16's cars point of Marmarth, N.D. As a result, The last #16 departing were upgraded with roller-bearing #15/16 added a few more station Puget Sound had an FP-7A/F-7B/E- trucks, and became "Lines West" only stops (such as at Ringling, and Superi• 9A + RPO-Express/five coach- mainline "through" passenger trains or, Montana). es/""/dinerrTouralux" after the "Columbian's" discontinuance sleeper/Pullman 10-6 sleeper/Pullman by 1931. The "Olympian's" new coa• From 1949 to 1953, both "Skytop". The very last "OLYMPIAN ches and diners (from CMStP&P's trains #15 /16 and #17/18 had the HIAWATHA" consist (which was on own Milwaukee, Wise, carshops) ar• unique experience of being run with the #15) had two FP-7As -I- three rived by the mid-1930's. These "semi- all three major forms of MILW's storage mail-express cars/coach/"Super streamlined" cars were built with the motive power. Trains would change Dome"/Pullman 10-6 sleeper. The railroad's distinctive horizontal-rib diesels for electrics at Hariowton, and extra "head-end" cars were for compa• sides and flat roofs. then replace these for a steam engine ny materials (relating to passenger between Avery and Othello (by way of operations) being removed from the Following the end of WWII Spokane). By the beginning of the various depots west of Deer Lodge. all four Chicago - Pacific NorthWest following decade, however, the "OLY• Although this was The MILWAUKEE railroads made plans to upgrade their MPIAN HIAWATHAs" were all-EMD ROAD'S last passenger train west of existing services with "". powered trains, and would remain so Deer Lodge, the UP's Seattle - Port• On June 29, 1947 The MILWAUKEE until the end. Until the introduction land "pool service" trains occasionally ROAD launched its own versions with of roller bearing-equipped trucks, and included MILW cars for another de- trains #15/16, the "OLYMPIAN HIA- the MILW's "home-built/semi-stream• WATHAs". These featured through- lined" cars, #15/16's schedules re• (Continued on page 6) Page 6 MilWest Dispatch

Anniversary Olympiangram (Continued from page 5) (Continued from page 4) cade. These were usually head-end Rarus Ry. Tbm reports that they equipment (storage mail-ex• gave LRC photos of the GP-38's to press/baggage-dormitories) or coaches, work from and when rolled out of the and operated over the MILW's & shop it was lettered for the BA&R UP's "joint" main line between T&co- LRC had to quickly re-letter it cor• ma Jet. and Seattle's Union Station. rectly after the mistake was pointed The UP's "pool" trains were discontin• out. The unit will be used in Anacon• ued on April 30, 1971 with the advent da as a switcher. The unit is now of Amtrack. The last "Skytop" to be stenciled as a "GP-9" and is reported towed behind MILW power from to have the motor/generator set from "Bcoma to Seattle departed almost a GP-9. Tom further reported that ten years before. Some of the former after Rarus put the unit in service There^s rolling stock (head-end cars and coa• they discovered that LRC had not ches) used on trains #15/16 reap• properly drained the water from the Only ONE peared in Maintenance-of-Way service unit and it had frozen. LRC is report• following Amtrack's inception. Other ed to be paying for those repairs. OLYMPIAN (earlier) former passenger cars had been used in similar circumstances Editors Note: Bill Wilkerson furnished Chicugo—Milwaukee—Si. Paul prior to then. There were also the the following corrections to his Diesel I^litineapolis—i^lissoula occasional special movements of the book after Art reveiwed it. Spckauc—Seattle—Tacoma railroad's business cars (almost always The air-conditioned roller-bearing Olympian is Queen in-consist on the regular freight of Transcontinental Trains. Between Chicago and the Caption on page 3, last line: It should Pacific Northwest, beside blue Lake Michigan, across trains). Other than those events, no read "so they could reach in on short the lakelands of Wisconsin, along the scenic upper MILW passenger equipment appeared Mississippi River, through Minnesota and the Dakotas. ONE to get the North Montana, etc. for 656 tlectrifled miles over the Belt. Rocky, Bitter again on their former "Lines West". Root and Cascade mountains—the Olympian's route Page 5: It was March of 1974, not is the scenically supreme trail. With all its superb mechanical wonders, its faultless Less than two decades after 1954. appointments, its physical perfection, it has an atmos• the last "", phere of hospitality ... a personality that ads to its distinction, and to the genuine satisfaction of its the railroad itself ceased running west Page 20: The 1603, photo taken by patrons. of Miles City. Some of the train's cars Tom Helms on Sept. 4, 1959, not Leaves Chicago, Union Station, 11:15 p, m. daily continue to survive in-service, howev• 1989. It was retired in 1961. FASTER—/Vow only sliglttly more than 2 iliiys en er, as six of the Pullman-built "Super route. Domes", and all of the 10-6 sleepers and "Skytops" were sold to the CN in 1964. The former are still occasionally used on VIA trains as to date only the % Milwaukee 'Skytops" have been retired. AMERICA'S LONGEST ELECTRIFIED RAILROAROAD D Page 8 MilWest Dispatch The ex-MILW depot in New• "DFW" GM NOTES port is now the Pend Oreille historical museum and will be open on August (Continued from page 3) • (Continued from page 7) 31. Adjacent to that is the ex-GN Ed Lynch reports that bridge #NM Marshall Lake Resort (509) 447-4158 depot, now offices for a lumber com• 1136, mp 198.15 on the North Mon• Shadow Bay Resort (509) 447-3332 pany but the building is nearly original. tana Line was reinstalled in late Nov. The Inn at Usk (509) 445-1526 We will list other activities 1990. It was removed by BN in Hideaway Resort (509) 447-4174 and items of interest in the area in the March, 1986 when they abandoned Burroughs House bed and breakfast July Dispatch. You may also wish to the line from the Great Falls depot, (509) 447-2590 contact the Newport chamber of com• mp 198.7 to approx. mp 197.5. The Helen's Country Style bed and break• merce for additional information. bridge was originally built over 6th St. fast (509) 447-2313 N in Great Falls in 1912-13. The last Facilities in the Metaline MILW train over it ran on March 23, Falls-lone area follow: 1980 (SW1200 #635 elb to the Falls WAYBILLS yard). It has been reinstalled as part Outpost Resort (509) 445-3213 of a bike path scheme done by the Blueslide Resort (509) 442-1327 city. The bike path is proposed to run lone Motel (509) 442-3213 " FOR THE BEST IN over the former MILW elevated grade Porters Plaza Motel (509) 442-3534 on either end of this bridge. Box Canyon Motel (509) 442-3479 RAILROAD VIDEOS"-' PENTREX • GREEN FROG • VIDEO RAILS Ed Lynch reports the May, 1991 issue Z-Canyon Motel (509) 446-4935 HOPEWELL • INTERURBAN • WB • HERRON of Pacific Rail News will have a 10- Circle Motel (509) 446-4343 CATENARY • GREG SCHOLL • TGM PLUS MORE! page article by California railroad pho• VISAWASTERCARD • Check or Money Order tographer Steve Smollinger. It is The N. Pend Oreille Valley Call or Write lor Free Calalog reported to be all color about the Lions Club will be operating rides on SOUTH SHORE H MILW electrics titled "The Milwaukee the POVA Ry between Metaline Falls COMHUHOTIONS Road Electrification - Ancient, Mod• and lone on August 31 and Septem• ern and Gone. ber 1. These are on a first come P.O. BOX 55176. SEATTLE, WA 98155 basis. (206) 821-3659

Vol. 4, Issue No. 2 April, 1991 MilWest Dispatch 444 W 15th Ave. ^ Spokane, WA 99203-2110

•i Helpers #28 & #131 are on the Tacoma Hill (MP 1.4) on September 5, 1978. Art Jacobsen Slide

81C/SE1/81A are at Hillsdale - 72nd Street near Tacoma on September 3, 1979. Art Jacobsen Slide MILWEST DISPATCH APRIL 1991

Chehalis Western RY #818 & #817 are westbound with log empties near Hillsdale at MP 2.4 on March 27, 1987. Art Jacobsen Slide