Alright so I've decieded to just recreate this thread. Originally named lines west, I am now going to call this by the actual name, the Coast Division. The area I am exploring is the 1st Sub-Division, which was the Tacoma to Othello WA run. For those that do not know I am exploring the route in order to build a prototypical N scale layout based on my photos of the area. Some pictures will be repeats from those that saw my old thread. But ever since railimages changed so did all the links. Thus the other thread has all broken pic links and I think it will be easier to create a new post. Today we'll start with some new ones! The Columbia River Bridge At Beverly. RR left-overs All along the ROW one will find signal bases and other various pieces of wood. Here is some found in the gulch of the wye on the west side of the bridge. Photo taken looking south towards the Hanford Branch. Great View from the Bridge Photo taken looking South down the Columbia River. Damage on the Bridge? You bet! The Milw had some problems when high winds (some gusts reaching 120mph) would come racing down the river and would blow trailers of flat cars. These trailers often ended up in the Columbia. The Milw installed high wind indicators that were lights that glowed a steady yellow. These lights were placed west of the bridge at Boylston and east of Beverly yard. However, if the light was out than as Blair Kooistra wrote, "watch out!" Winds above 60 mph extinguished the signals and crews were order to call in the dispatcher and wait for instructions to proceed. The dispatcher would receive a wind read out and would instruct the trains in whether it was okay to proceed. This worked for sometime until one incident where a train had stopped at Boylston and was then later told to proceed as the winds had died down. But by the time the train reached the bridge they had picked back up and guess what! Off flew another trailer. Eventually a light would be installed right before the bridge to avoid another trailer flying off. More Evidence? Sure is! On the floor of the Columbia it looks like there are a few pieces from TOFC's. These are the pieces that are found on the ends of the TOFC's. more to come soon!
Hemi, it gets pretty deep. That photo was taken on the west end of the bridge and it is now very deep over there at all. No more rails I do have a picture of a train wheel/axle siting down on the middle sand bar about mid-span the bridge. I'll post that soon as well!
I figured that, but ya never know! I look forward to more pics!!!! It is said that at Tunnel 26 on the old D&RGW Moffat Route, in South Boulder Creek 200' below the tunnel is a wheelset--from that fateful rockslide in 1991 that killed the crew of a westbound at that location. The wheelset is only visible in winter, however, and I haven't been down there in winter.
As Greg can attest, there are souvenirs of the Milw scattered in many places. Reminders that will last a few decades more.... Boxcab E50
Boxcab is right, there are many Milw souveniers scattered throughout the area that will be here for decades to come. I am fortunate enough to have one large section of the Coastal Division almost completely intact and still operating. The Tacoma Eastern is once again operating to this day but is being operated now by Tacoma Rail. I cant wait till I have time to go up to Park Jct or National and go date nailing.
Here's a few more. I am in the process of re-doing my ROW tour in my railimages album. I am trying to organize things a little better so that their easier to find. As I get things organized I will post more photos! Here's one more I decieded to throw out there. The big portion of the Columbia River Bridge. We now arrive at Cohasset. This was a small gravel pit the RR used when building the line. They used Choasset (pit run gravel that is very similar to sand) as a ballast from Beverly Jct to Kittitas. There was also once a small siding at Cohasset. Today the pit can still be seen but is slowly being taken over by sage brush. And another shot. Next stop Doris!
Time for an update along the Coast Division tour! Our next stop is Doris. Doris Substation #22 foundation. Demolished in 1977. The area where the tall grass is growing is the former site for the homes the Milwaukee Road built for its substation employees. All that remains are a few dead trees that look out of place. The trees are probably the only sign that people lived here once. The foundation to the homes have been buried. I'll post a few more Doris pictures soon.
Wow, not much left there. Pictures of the place when all the buildings were there are pretty scarce too.
Perfect proof of how little power man has over nature.... After the shutdown in 1980, it was a big surprise watching how quickly the grass and trees quickly recovered. In just a couple of years the right of way east of Cedar Falls was impassible, with young trees between the rails. mg: Boxcab E50
Greg, you have done an admirable job depicting this line--too bad it's nearly gone.... I guess that's why I concentrate so hard on the Moffat--someday, it too will likely succumb to same fate as Tennessee Pass...
Here's a recent photo I took of one of the Substation Foundations at Doris. I was brave enough this time to walk through tall grass...cause we all know what likes to sit in tall grass!
Tall grass like that caused me to develop a habit. I'd toss fists full of gravel, into the area where I intended to walk. Not 100% effective. But it did save me from complications more than once! Boxcab E50
I hear you Ken! As you walk towards Cohasset on the east side of the ROW is this small concrete thing. Not sure what it was used for but it lies right next to the tracks. I walked a little ways off the ROW and took a peak at it. After looking down inside of it from the top I too was throwing rocks where ever I could not see! take a look at this!
Yup. No surprise there! A lot of folks don't believe we have them here in this part of MT. Yet, just one month ago, there was one spotted sunning itself. Just outside the main entrance to the office building where my wife works! This was in heart of the city. Duh. Be careless. And get nailed. That's called learning- The hard way! (No thanks!) Boxcab E50
