Trains On The Adrian Cutoff

From the "Spokesman Review."

October 24, 1903

Smack Through The Middle Of The Columbia Basin

From the "Spokesman Review."

January 26, 1947

Bacon Tunnel, Near Coulee City, Changed To Full-Depth Operation

From the "Spokesman Review."

July 23, 1947

Biggest Things Abound In Basin

From the "Spokesman Review."

December 23, 1946

Galloping Goose Views

Courtesy of NMAC.

1930s

Locations between Davenport and Reardan.

1933 Land Ownership Maps Soap Lake To Adrian

1933

Of note, at the Adrian townsite, there is a chunk owned by CF Berlet. He had been instrumental in getting the Adrian Irrigation Company set up back in 1907, and was part of the lawsuits that saw the company's demise.

1980 Davenport View

Photo courtesy of Blair Kooistra.

Blair says:

"And because I've always got "just one more" vintage photo to show, here we are at Davenport, Washington, in the predawn hours of October 11, 1980, when I dragged my buddy Brian Elchlepp with me across the mountains to chase an A-A-A-A-Geep-B-Geep set on the Coulee City local. We just drove east along the railroad until we found the train tied down at the depot, then waited for the crew to show up. The headlight is on dim, cab lights are on as the crew readies their workspace, and numberboards and rooftop gumball flasher is on. 

"What a day! We made a full day of it, chasing all the way west to Coulee City and then back to Spokane. It made for a long day of driving, and I know I'm an old man now (I was only 20 at the time!), but if something like this were to happen today. . .well, I can guarantee you Brian and I would be hot-footin' it no matter how much sleep we'd be losing."

Tunnel Construction Scene

Courtesy of the NMAC.

1935-36 timeframe. 

This tunnel was built on a 5% grade, It's located adjacent to the Coulee Dam city hall.

Milwaukee Clawing At Cohasset

Courtesy of Blair Kooistra.

Blair says:

"Here's one from August, 1978: Milwaukee Road Westbound freight (likely a #205 symbol) claws its way up the 2.2% Saddle Mountain grade near old Cohasset Pit, Washington. Two SD40-2's cut in behind a couple dozen grain loads. Loud. Smoky. Sand in the air. Incredible to experience."