so I have been trying to research this train for my future layout, it is NP 423, it ran from tacoma, wa. to Hoquium, Wa. southbound was train 423 northbound was 422, what I am looking for is what would the consist make up be from 1930-1950, so far what I can tell it was one or two consists, either a 4-6-2, followed by a RPO, baggage, and a coach or two dependent on traffic. The other consist I have seen has been a gas-electric car (doodlebug) with a single coach. is this correct? and can anyone tell me more about these trains? Also, I am looking for the name/number and consist for the train that ran on the 4th sub from tacoma to tenino from 1930-1953 Here are the images I have been able to find: http://home.comcast.net/~olyferris/np/15st.htm http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/delamaize/2187-hi.jpg http://www.wrvmuseum.org/journal/images/0402_5.jpg
Unfortunately, my only reference for those years is an Official Guide. It doesn't give any info helpful to you. Wish my grandparents and mother were still available. They rode those trains. :sad: Boxcab E50
NP 422 / 423 Delmaize, let's see, there is a lot of information around in the various NP books, so I will try to give a synapsis: 422 / 423 actually operated from Seattle to Hoquiam. South of Tacoma it stopped at the following stations: South Tacoma Lakeview Fort Lewis Nisqually Sint Clair Olympia Gate Elma Montesano Aberdeen Hoquiam There were several additional flag stops, let me know if you need the list... As engine it typically used a 462, though in the eraly 50s NP tried a Baldwin DRS 4-4-15 road switcher, number 500 (evidence in NP Color Pictorial,Vol 4, page 184). The equipment I could find: RPO Baggage express to be transferred to #6 in Seattle Coach The Baggage Express was probably discontinued in the early 50s: There are photos in 1953 showing it (Jim Fredrikson, "Railscapes, Page 60) , yet it is no longer visible in 1956 pics. B23 Motor Car (build in 1929 by EMC) was used as a stand-in for steam powered trains on the Tacoma and Idaho division. There is a photo in NP Color Pic Vol 4, page 187, showing it in Spokane on as train 311 to Lewiston. B23 had a small passenger compartment, originally seating only 20. The RPO facilities were removed in 1939. B23 was used on 422/423 in 1955 before being scrapped in South Tacoma in 1956. 422/423 went back to stem or the Baldwin diesel, finally ending passenger service in 1956, the last run being pulled by 2261, a Class Q6 heavy pacific. I hope this helps, let me know if you need more info. Cheers Dirk
that is a HUGE help thanks! Now if I can figure out the train number that ran the tacoma to tenino and points south run. I would be set!
Delamaize, Tenino was on the mainline going south to Portland. So there would have been all the mainline passenger trains: 401 & 402 NP 407 & 408 NP 457 & 458 UP 459 & 460 GN The GN and UP numbers as of 1946. All these trains used the Point Defiance "Coast" line. GN changed their train from the Prairie line to the Coast line in the early 1940s. The South Bend banchline was served from Centralia, so the trains were not scheduled north to Tenino. Likewise the Centralia to Gate local just run between those two cities via Blakeslee Jct, Grand Mound and Rochester. It did not pass to Tenino. I hope this helps. Let me know if you are looking for specific info on any of these trains. Also I can recommend to join the NP Yahoo group, as some very knowledgable and helpful NP experts can be found there. Cheers Dirk
By "Coast line," are you referring to the track that ran all the way around the peninsula on the beach, from the Port of Tacoma north to Pt. Defiance, then turning southward again on the west side of the peninsula? That track was one of my favorite things about living in Tacoma. I don't, however, ever remember UP using it. UP did go just a little ways on it, from the Port northward to the grain elevators--still technically part of the POT--and it terminated there. But of course I wasn't alive to watch trains in 1946, so it's conceivable UP went all the way around then.
At this point I am just trying to get an Idea of what kind of equipment was used on these trains between 1940's and the 1950's
Hello Chaya, yes, the UP did run from Seattle to Portland. In the 1940 - 1950 timeframe they operated at leadst one passenger train. The operation of the 401 & 402 alternated between the 3 roads (NP, GN and UP). Here is a shot from the mid 1950, UP 457 to Seattle meeting NP 408 to Portland. Delamaize, the normal equipment between 1940 and 1950 would be heavyweight passenger cars and steam engines. Cars 401 & 402 had a lot of head-end cars, express boxes, express baggage and RPO. All trains were mostly coach with heavyweight diners and lunch-counters to provide meal service. Sleepers were mostly connecting from the SP. The assignment of the SP sleepers to the 4 "Pool Trains" changed over the years, as dictated by the various schedules of the SP and the 3 "Pool train" operators. The UP transferred sleepers from the Portland Rose up to Seattle. Engines NP using 484 Class A and A1 (the Timken), the UP used heavy mountains (number 7017 and 7866 show up frequently in pictures), and GN P-2 mountains. All roads dieselized early 1950s, NP rotating the 3-unit Fs from the NCL and Mainstreeter, GN with E-units that were removed from the Empire Builder and UP used Es and Fs. UP bought the "Train of Tomorrow" in April 1950. This was a one-of-a-kind train, so the UP used it between Seattle and Portland as only one train set was sufficient for that route. This brought domes into the area, a fact only made public by the UP, but not so much by the NPO and GN (as tickets bought by any road would be good for all 4 trains...) I can recommed getting the book "NP Pictorial Volume 4", as it describes NP passenger operations up to 1951. Hope this helps Dirk
