1911 Marengo Wreck

May 30, 1911

The Dam Brothers Ranch At Priest Rapids

Thanks to John Taubeneck for finding this.

October 26, 1915.

The Dam Brothers Ranch, Priest Rapids.  The Milwaukee depot and water tank are just right of center.  Note the steam shovel to the right of the water tank. 

More 1976 Milwaukee Mudslide Photos

Photographer unknown.

Summer of 1976.

See previously posted photos here.

 

Trinidad Loop-2

Courtesy of Tom Carver.

"Into the teeth of the 1% climb out of the Columbia River valley in the background, this eastbound is now heading east and west simultaneously as it ascends onto the Columbia Plateau. This loop is actually a full horseshoe up a side coulee of the Columbia valley. After leaving Wenatchee, WA., BN's ex-GN line crosses from the west to east side of the Columbia River and initiates this 20-mile climb to Quincy on its way to Ephrata and eventually Spokane."

Happy 18th Birthday!

 Wow! Eighteen years! This website is now old enough to vote!

 

 

I started this to chronicle railroad history of the area, and that is what is has continued to do. It's helped produce two books (and a third, in the works), numerous speaking engagements, and allowed me to have some credibility in historical circles. I've volunteered with the Coulee Pioneer Museum in Electric City, the Grant County Historical Society in Ephrata, the Ritzville Railway Depot Museum, the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Society, and the Great Northern Railway Historical Society (of which I am on the Board of Directors). Big thanks to the initial encouragement of my wife to put all this stuff somewhere easily accessible, rather than stuffed into a filing cabinet. Consider this site my online filing cabinet.

Life changes a lot in 18 years. Like a child growing up and leaving his parents at home, life has handed me a number of big curves in these 18 years. My daughter, who is a few years older than 18, left here and moved to the big city. She got married, and has a kid of her own now. She's really not that far away and I adore visiting the three of them.

I've had a health challenge of my own, but that is now more than 5 years behind me. I nearly died.

Speaking of death, my wife recently passed. I didn't note it here, as it was unimportant to the page. She passed in October 2024. I normally work a few days ahead of what is actually posted (I'm typing this out on December 29), so I sat back and let the posts roll out while I tried to figure out which way was up. I got through the major holidays and our anniversary (December 28) and have come to appreciate the stability of this page. It always wants a new post, which I am ALWAYS happy to do. 

Thanks for stopping by and having a look around. Leave a comment, or don't, it's okay.

 

Trinidad Loop

Courtesy of Tom Carver.

"My intent was to get both ends of the train in the photo here at Trinidad Loop, which is out of the frame to the right, but prior to that this Frisco boxcar caught my eye which I think is a better image anyway. This westbound is fully occupying the loop on BN's Spokane Division 5th Sub between Spokane and Wenatchee. It is on a 1 percent grade down to the Columbia River, which runs generally due south in this part of Washington State and occupies the canyon in the middle distance. The train will then turn compass north to Wenatchee, upriver out of the photo to the right."

2019 Wheeler Turn

Photos by Jonathan Fischer.

November 22, 2019

Jonathan says:

" CBRW 302 leads a short, two car, Friday local from Warden, Washington, to Wheeler, Washington (and return).

CBRW 302 is initially spotted leaving Warden northbound in the early morning. Also noted were CBRW 652, 608, & 651. Five miles away, at Bassett Jct., the sun had given way to fog/low clouds."