It's been announced that the "CW" branch will be tore up by the contractor's cause the State of Washington's bid was less than the scrapper's! Not too long ago, this was an excellent branch line with a lot of wheat coming off the line. The shortline that run's it now, Palouse River & Coulee City, (I think), doesn't think it's profitable anymore?
Kurt- At least it's not the entire CW. I believe it's east from Coulee City, but not all the way. And the south end is another short line run by the Temple family? I've noted similar previous behavior from Watco. Run it into the ground, whine for freebie government funding, (maybe get some, but it's never enough), then pull the plug. Boxcab E50
I grew up in Coulee City, so I know a few details. Coulee City is the end of the line. Has been since 1979 when the section between there and Wheeler, WA was abandoned. I've been trying to get ahold of my uncle, who works for the grain elevator in Coulee City. Wonder what his take on this is. So, it would be the entire remaining CW getting pulled up. I cannot speak of the P&L.
Dan- It would be interesting to know what anyone along the effected portion has to say. And learn what sort of nonsense Watco has laid on them. The Washington Central Branch, as I knew it from NP days, and into BN, ran from Connell to Coulee City to Cheney. While a major portion would now be lost, the south end will still exist. Connell to Wheeler. That should now be the Columbia Basin Railroad owned by Brig Temple. Columbia Basin Railroad Boxcab E50
Ken, I had an opportunity to ride a speeder/putt putt on the section from Wheeler to Connell last month. Fun trip. Spoke with my uncle tonight. He did not know very many particulars. The company he works for owns the elevators at all the stations between Wilbur and Coulee City. He said they have been shipping grain by truck to their mainline stations at Marlin or Wenatchee (for their elevators that are located on the old Mansfield branch that was abandoned in 1985). He knew nothing of the unit train loader at Ritzville. He mentioned that as a 1st grader, years ago, he rode the last NP passenger train between Coulee City and Hartline for 50 cents.
One last thing. The Central Washington built from Cheney to Adrian. From Adrian to Connell was the Connell Northern. Both NP subsidiaries.
Ok. I'd forgotten that predecessor combo. Just fixated on the Washington Central Branch name NP used during my lifetime. So it sounds as though there's no business left for any rail service? At least, not grain.... Boxcab E50
Well, the more I think about it.... I know that some of the line out there vicinity of Davenport, etc., was actually built by the Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern. C.1887. Part of their failed attempt to build a line from Seattle to Spokane. They ran out of money about 1889-1890. Can't think of the station name where they quit. Boxcab E50
Ken, I've been doing some heavy research on the SLS&E this last week and they had a line from Spokane to Davenport. The SLS&E was sold in forclosure in 1896. The eastern WA section became the Spokane & Seattle Railway. The NP bought it in 2 sections. Medical Lake to Davenport in 1889, Medical Lake to Spokane in 1900. By the time of the BN merger, the only portion left was a spur out of Davenport to Eleanor. It never was upgraded to take anything bigger than a 40 foot boxcar or a GP9. What I would like to find out is if the ROW of the section between Spokane and Medical lake became part of the Washington Water Power Company interuban. What I have seen so far suggests that it did.
Forgot one thing. SLS&E had survey crews all the way out to Coulee City. I have not been able to substantiate if the maps I have seen that show a line beyond Coulee City to St. Andrews was NP or SLS&E. It was not built beyond Coulee City, but you can pick out the graded ROW for about 3 miles up the hill. For the record, Coulee City was more like a spur off the CW. The switch was at Odair, where the branch continued south on to Wheeler and Connell. This extension to St. Andrews would have been an addition to the spur to Coulee City.
Dan- The book you want is: "Report On Washington Territory." It was published by the SLS&E in 1889. Request it from your library. It will tell where all the surveying was done as of late 1887-early 1888. AFAIK- The Spokane -Medical Lake sgment did indeed go to the Interurban. I have heavily researched the west side. Seattle to North Bend-Sallal Prairie. Cannot find my notes on the east end. Where it was built, and disposition. Have that info somewhere. BTW- They surveyed two crossings of the Cascades. One was the route on which The Milw later built.... Did you know they, SLS&E principles), were intending on mining not only coal, but iron ore in the Cascades? Boxcab E50
OOOHHH!!! I have not heard of that book. I can imagine mining coal, but I have not heard of iron ore deposits. Where abouts were/are they?
Dan- There are some mineral deposits in the Cascades. Remember why the Everett & Monte Cristo RY existed. These deposits I reference, were in what we'd call far eastern King County. Principals and investors of the SLS&E explored all around the area. Had mining claims, etc. Denny family members included. Hence the reason Denny Creek received it's name. Remember how Kirkland got it's name? Peter Kirk. Who was going to make that town the "Pittsburgh of the west." He was set up to get coking coal from mines on what is now Snoqualmie Ridge. It was to be hauled by the SLS&E. Rats! I still can't think of the pass name they surveyed, which was NE of North Bend. Where are my old notes when I need them??? Boxcab E50
The nearest library with that book is California. Oh well. I could buy one online for a small fortune as well. In looking for it, I did see a small map of the "completed" line. Looks like it would have gone through Okanogan. The Encyclopedia of Western Railway History lists the SLS&E becoming the Seattle & International Railway. This was sold to the NP in 1901. No where have I found the reason for the forclosure. Any clues?
They won't do an interlibrary loan? If so, that's sad. SLS&E ran out of money, 1889-1890. Then came the panic of 1893. Somewhere in there, the reorganization as the S&I, and NP acquiring interest. It's in my notes. Guess I'll need to dig them out. No. I won't. @#$^^#%$!!! They are downstairs. And due to the mess from moving things, to drywall a room. Ugh. Buried. Boxcab E50
The library netted a different gem. "The History of the Northern Pacific Railroad," by Louis Tuck Renz. Goes into detail about the happenings of the SLS&E, plus the disposition. Will have to read in detail what happened. It also mentions that the CW was to be built into the mining areas near Okanogan, but was put off. Like I said before, there is a grade leading out of the Grand Coulee, though it peters out after about 3 miles. The intention was St. Andrews, which is on the way to Okanogan.
Yes. I have that one by Renz. He also wrote another smaller book, that give a lot of corporate dates. Also seek out biographies on the Denny's, and others involved. Those writtings will add some very interesting light to the subject. But if you want the deep corporate background, written at the exact time it was all happening, that book by the SLS&E themselves, is likely the very best opportunity available. In my buried notes is a length bibliographic list. Would keep you really busy for quite a while, as it did for me, just piecing together their activities in King County! Boxcab E50
I just bought a beat up copy of the SLS&E book. It is missing the folding maps, but I have that figured out. Turns out the book is at the Central Washington University library in Ellensburg. My brother-in-law is a student there. I'll just tag along with him to the library and see if I can photocopy it sometime in January. I've also found 2 photos of SLS&E steamers. One was named the D H Gilman. Wonder who he was? Same book also had a picture of a steamer from the Waterville Railroad. [ December 27, 2005, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: SDP45 ]
Trying to scrounge my memory on this. There was a Daniel Hunt Gilman. The man who once had his name affixed to what later became Issaquah. (There is currently a shopping area there known as Gilman Village. And a street named Gilman Blvd.) If I recall correctly, he attained the position of SLS&E VP circa 1888-1889. Boxcab E50
