was there a common design or was each one different and unique? are there any schematics for them? thank you.
Railroads usually had a mix of designs. There would be standard plans, but also others non-standard. Often those non-standard were from companies which were acquired and merged. I wonder what SP&SHS, or the GN/NP Joint Archives might have or know?
The SP&S historical society had issued some models of the Wishram depot and lunchroom. I had purchased these for my layout, and they are different from NP and GN depots. They also had a depot kit of the White Salmon depot, along with fire shacks and motor car buildings. The Swap meet is Feb.1,2014 in Portland, and the SP&S historical society will be there with a booth. There are drawings for the freight house in Vancouver, for a good scratch build project. The kits for the lunch room and Wishram depot was by SBQ designs, and Im not sure if they are availible anymore. The Vancouver freight house is in the 2002 number 4 Of the histirical societys "Northwest's own Railway", with detail structural drawings.
Hope you can find some information. While at it, maybe even learn which depots still exist. From what I have gathered, most in Washington are gone.
As far as I know, the only "classic" SP&S depots that stand, that I know of are the ones at Astoria (1925), Brownsmead, and Portland (1908), Oregon, and the one at Vancouver (1910), Washington. A replacement depot built in the 1960's still stands at Plymouth, Washington, and newer buildings still serve trackside purposes at Camas, Stevenson, Bingen, and Wishram, but aren't really true "depots" to my knowledge.
Portland: Is this other than Union Station? I know Wishram was built by the BN, when they removed the old depot, but were these others also BN era? Also, nothing standing east of Pasco? Nothing left on the old OE or OT?
Initially negotiations for the SP&S to use Union Station fell apart, so the eastern of two SP&S freighthouses at Hoyt and 11th was converted to be used as a passenger depot. Apparently it was used for this purpose to some extent at least up into the 1920's, along with being used by Oregon Electric until 1931. More info on the building can be read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Bank_Depot_Buildings If Wishram is a BN-era building, I'm sure the Binge, Stevenson and Camas structures are too, they are all of a fairly similar design, differing only is size it seems. As far as I know nothings remains in eastern Washington. There is one building I suspect could be either the old SP&S or UP depot at Washtucna, but I need to take a look at it in person before I'm at all certain. Thanks for reminding me of the SP&S subsidiaries, there are a few survivors from them around: Oregon Electric: The depots at Albany (1912), Eugene (1914) and Sweet Home (1931) still stand, though the latter is in rough shape. In addition, the combination depot-substations made of concrete remain at Tonquin (near Sherwood), Donald, and Waconda (near Brooks). Oregon Trunk: The depots at Metolius (1911), Terrebonne (1911), Redmond (1912) and Bend (1911) still stand, all four nicely preserved.
I have heard the UP depot at Washtucna is still there, somewhere. But never seem to have a reason to be in that area, to look.
Im going to the swap meet also. I will bring the book of blueprints of trestles, crossings,bridges and signs from the SP&S.It was given to me as a gift,and I want to see if the historicial society wants copies to share with others. I am currently tring to get you a couple depot blueprint copies, just need a scanner big enough.
Yeah, I'll see if I can get down there to portland, gotta go back so I can visit "The Lady" someday. There are some photos being shared on the SP&S FB group page but they are one sided, I also wish I had photos of their facilities like diesel shops and whatnot. I know they used GN ones but my layout goes from Vancouver to Pasco.
Im looking for some photos of the Wishram diesel shop, I bought at Portland. They had a book with all sorts of photos of the facilities, and trains on the SP&S, by Ed Austin. Some great pics of the depots along the Columbia to Spokane. I will try and get some scanned by this weekend for ya.
What was the book called? oh and thank you for taking the time to help me! us SP&S modelers are a mischievous bunch, we should take over the world. :teeth:
Images from the web: What seems to have been an early fairly standard design for SP&S, Clive Carter states as 32 ft wide, seen at: Cooks, WA Snake River, WA Stevenson, WA Washtucna, WA White Salmon, WA It seems the presence of windows on the ends of this design varied over the years, but when they were present , they are unusual in having two be symmetrical, with the third added on the track side. Other designs used: Fallbridge, WA, Wishram after 1926 Goldendale, WA, built by Columbia River & Northern RY Kennewick, WA, smaller version of the Vancouver, WA, depot Klickitat, WA