This thread was created for those interested in seeing the Kittitas to Beverly section of the Milwaukee Road's Lines West route. Many of the buildings and other related RR structures are gone and only a few remain. However, there are still many things to see along this old ROW. The photos I have posted here are among many I have taken to aid me in accurately modeling this portion of the ROW. I will continue posting pics as I get them scanned. Also contained in this picture essay will be items that are railroad related which I found along the way. We begin in Kittitas: The Kittitas Depot and its nearby buildings. I noticed on my last trip out the back side of the depot is starting to sag. I looks like the left side corner has sunk causing the building to shift. I will take a picture of it when I go back out there on the 15 of April. Substation foundation: The ROW shortly after the Kittitas ramp heading east:
Great Shot. That is a GREAT looking station....but.....seeing the old right of way....well, it's kinda sad.
They'll need to get it off the ground some day. Probably an old post, block and beam "foundation" that's long past it's service life. Unfortunately, it appears they went with a brown. Instead of proper maroon. Boxcab E50
I am surprised to see the old pump house. Glad it's preserved. I wonder if still in use? Perhaps tied into the town water supply. Boxcab E50
Andy- In your time, and area, there were actually many that were not all gray. There were some variants. All white. White with varied black trims. Two tone gray. And even a few others. Gray with maroon trim, and.... Then after 1980, a few were actually painted in a white with tan trim. And....... If you're ever out here, and have a week, I can show you what I have collected. Yes. In order to enjoy it, you'll need many LOOOONG hours to view. Boxcab E50
Ken, If I ever do make it out your way, yours would be the first place I would stop!!!!!! If only to say hello.
Andy, many of the stations like kittitas had a white/gray color to it originally i think. most of the photos I have seen of the kittitas one show the white/gray color from thr 70s. I believe it was repainted in the color you now see sometime after the shut down out in the west.
Greg- The "white/gray" was actually a weather/time effected two tone gray. Which was the last official paint scheme used. The colors you see today, were applied long after shutdown. They are actually based on a 1927 and earlier orange and maroon theme. (Not brown as apparently used. From 1927, to c.1952, that depot was white, with some black trim. Boxcab E50
When in "Kitty", east from the depot over the road, last summer the concrete blocks were still there for the water tower, on the north side of the tracks! A couple years ago, I got lost one day and went over to Beverly and headed east from there on every backroad I could find, following along the line until I got lost over in the rock lake area. I stopped at the substation just before Othello and took some pics. It was neat looking west down the tracks, thinking of all the passenger and freights that came by here, while the substation for the local power company was buzzing in the background. From there, followed it east. Lots of structure still remain along the line and I got alot of pic's.
There was a neat old wooden elevator trackside at Ralston. Wish I could find my slides of it. Boxcab E50
Ya, I remember seeing that, but did I get a pick? Also, there was a depot in a field used to store hay, and about that same area, a big grain silo next to the roadbed and a complete w/wires pole line that went for a couple miles and I could see down the roadbed a ways,there was a target signal, but the farmer that owns the land was out there so I didn't walk the 1/2 mile or so. Wish I had now! I'ts probably gone!
I really like "The Gap" area, but there are hardly any pic's of that area between Othello and St. Maries.
Too many of us overlooked the "Gap." I am one. What a BIG mistake! That depot in a field should be Ralston. Located north of the tracks, slightly west of "town." Boxcab E50
Ya, that's the one! Where the dirt road turns and heads north over the roadbed, look east and you can make out the target signal about a 1/2 mile or so down the line. Also, just east of the road crossing is more blocks,(if I remember right), for a water tower.
Ok here's part two! Renslow of course!!! Bridge EE320, 12- span steel bridge, 678 ft., 110 ft high (I think this info is correct.) Renslow's concrete decking piled up on the north side of the bridge. The rest of the decking is being used to block the north and south sides of the bridge. A mystery box found in one of the girders. let's see what's in it! My brother an I thought we went far enough and turned back. However, he is taller than me and was able to see inside to an extent. All he saw was dirt. Maybe there is something underneath the dirt? Picture was taken from the south end of the bridge but looking towards the north. This is the cut in the hill just before the bridge. A lot of sage and other small bushes along with fallen rock have now taken over this fine cut. Also pictured is my brother, haha. South of the bridge. Renslow at sundown. Picture was taken from Boylston Rd.
Sunset in Eastern WA. A little souviner, a piece of one of the railings from the bridge. I found this down in the Renslow gluch.
Nice sunset photo! Be extra careful out there. Ghosts still roam. You could get run over by a set of motors, drifting downgrade. Boxcab E50
WOW!!!!! A mystery box, Greg I don't know how you can sleep at night not knowing whats in that box.It seems funny it being way up there, placed so nicely on the cross braces.
