| Posted by SES on November 3, 2019 | |
Yes, I think that sale came about as BN was in a scramble to reduce trackage and make things more "efficient" thru the 1980's. The old Northern Pacific line was considered excess as they had Stevens Pass and the Columbia Gorge way to the south as routes west. The NP had several more miles to it as it dipped way south from Spokane to Pasco, then Northwest thru Yakima and up over the steep Stampede grade. The original intent was to connect to the Milwaukee Road near Easton where the lines ran next to each other. Trains then could use the much easier grade over Snoqualmie. BN ended up leasing the NP from Pasco to Cle Elum to the Washington Central short line. Since the line was surplus and some anticipated coal traffic or something of the sort didn't materialize on the old NP, BN sold the Milwaukee Road route to State of Washington for rails to trails. This included the abandonment of the Pacific Coast Ry to Renton. This discontinued the BN local to the mill near North Bend at the base of the Snoqualmie grade. It wasn't until a decade after this line was torn up that BNSF reopened Stampede because the Stevens Pass route with the Cascade Tunnel couldn't handle any extra trains for having to take lots of time to ventilate the 8 mile long tunnel after one passed thru. The Columbia Gorge also was handling a staggering number of trains. I think BNSF did look into rebuilding Snoqualmie Pass route and I heard even between Lind and Ellensburg to bypass the dip to Pasco but nothing came of it.
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| Posted by beano on March 17, 2021 | |
BNSF should take a tip from the Old Millwaukee Road and elect to fry the tunnels esp a 8 mile long bore thru a mountain. Perhaps a loco that can convert to electric power as needed thru the tunnel. Motion is energy being spent to move mass. Just think of all the energy thats in a train going downhill all that motion could be converted back into power used for a train that use it to pull another train up the hill. Thats whats Happening.Now on the picture thats purfect let me conclude by saying.... Millwaukee Road cabooses look as if they were built to last until the end of time. Look, the winders r wide open the heats probably on high with those good caboose stoves and the coffeepot is keeping the coffee hot. Well the view is killer and I wish that was my job all that fresh air and a romantic swaying of the caboose bringing up the rear crossing over this awesome half moon trestle, or perhaps as the less fortunete a Gypsey ridin fo free with a bag of groceries ready to eat with all the trimmings including yes you guessed it Grey Poupon. A warm coat an warm wool socks n gloves earplugs riding pants good boots a p38 canopener trampkey some pork n beans and jug of water and yo nice sleeping bag ,yo in good shape. Now, with a BLT sub sandwich with xtra bacon an tomatoes you may just about be in heaven listening to the train roll on its way over the pass. Thx Bill. Much obliged for your photos on Railpictures.net. 'That Conductor's probably cooking a Porterhouse steak'
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