1981 BN Train At Adrian

Photo courtesy of Tom Carver.

No date, but I'd guess about 1981. 

Tom is standing on the former NP bridge.

1981 Coulee City View-With Me!

Photo courtesy of Tom Carver.

August 15, 1981

I've known of 5 fellows that had taken photos of the railroad to Coulee City in the 1980/81 timeframe, recording on film what I only have memories of. I've managed to catch up with all 5 of them over the years to see their work. One question I've posed to them is if they ever caught some kid trackside during that time. Today, one of these fellows, Tom Carver, posted this image from August 18, 1981. Here is what he had to say:

"After several discussions with Flickr member Dan Bolyard about my photos of the CW local in Coulee City, he asked if we remembered seeing a "snot-nosed kid hanging around the tracks," because it was most likely him. Well, that jogged my fading memory and I subsequently found this photo of Dan on his bike, positively identified by his T-shirt! So many of us when young did our train watching by bicycle–myself included–that this is probably why I shot the image in the first place. So, Dan, herewith, assuming this is really you and not someone who stole your T-shirt ?!? Glad you were old enough to see and remember the F-units! I'll be happy to send you a hi-res scan and the original slide if you like."

F Unit Surprise

Photo courtesy of Tom Carver.

August 16, 1980.

Tom says:
"The edict had already been handed down to withdraw all F-Units from service in Western Washington, so we all thought that was it. At the time I was working for an air freight forwarding company delivering to Eastern Washington and Idaho, with my westbound trip from Spokane to Wenatchee always on U.S. Rt. 2, which followed BN's 8th Subdivision branch line between Cheney and Coulee City. Having pulled over for a rest stop west of Davenport, I heard a train whistle, and having yet to see a train on this line I waited for the ubiquitous Geeps to show up...WTF...F-Units?!? Turns out the Parkwater (Spokane) based Fs, which also served as Marias Pass helpers, were still in service! Once back in Seattle I spread the word, and several trips were organized to catch this train, known as the CW (Central Washington) Local or Coulee City Turn."

Early 1970s Moses Lake Depot View

Courtesy of Aaron Schwarz and the PNRA.

From the Doug Klawunder collection.

Bitco, Inc. Plant Razed By Fire

From the Spokane "Chronicle."

July 30, 1947

Bridge Timbers Arrive

From the "Spokesman Review."

April 29, 1910

Me At Winchester On The Spud Local

Photo of me in the cab with my uncle as the engineer of the Spud Local out of Wenatchee. We were switching out a car at Winchester in 1994. I rode with him from Ephrata to Wenatchee. What a great trip!