Great Northern Railway Mansfield Branch Line (1909-1985) and the Waterville Railway Co. (1910-1954)

Withrow in 1977

2012-01-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

My dad and brother playing on a Great Northern Box car in Withrow. July 1977

Bridge #33

2011-12-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

Train crossing brige #33 on the MB Line on the down grade. Alan Loebsack photo. Date 1984. Other pictures from this area of the line.

North Portal End

2011-11-30T07:44:00.000-08:00

Late 70's look of the Tunnel in Douglas Creek. Picture by Alan Loebsack

Between Supplee and Douglas

2011-11-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

Here is what that section of abandoned ROW looks like today. Photo by Alan Loebsack

Braking on the Down grade

2011-11-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

BN GP9's #1743 (lead engine) and #1713 bring loaded box cars down the Mansfield Line near Douglas Creek Falls area. The box cars are still exiting the tunnel on the south portal. These locomotives are probably using heavy dynamic braking to control the load. This picture was taken in August of 1983. Photo provided by John Rust.

Mini Fake Photography

2011-10-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

1983 photo of train coming around bend having just crossed Bridge #9 on the downgrade ready to enter the tunnel. Taken by John P. Henderson

Where Bridge #36 used to cross the creek. See original photo.

Looking on the down grade south of Bridge #36. See the series of photos along with the orginal.

I was playing around with Mini Fake Photography on Photoshop and thought these turned out pretty cool. They almost look like they are taken from a model layout.

Spokesman-Review, Sunday, December 26, 1948

2011-10-24T09:02:00.001-07:00

Bridge #27

2011-10-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

Aerial view

1985 photo showing Bridge #27 on the Mansfield Branch. This was taken the same day as this photo on our family snowmobile ride along the line. Photo was taken on the west side of the creek looking on the down grade.

Bridge #14

2011-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Looking east on the down grade across a damaged bridge #14 caused by a massive summer rain storm. Date 1948. Photo provided by the Skykomish Historical Society

Looking south at bridge #14 after the repairs. Date 1949. Photo provided by the Skykomish Historical Society.

Nov 2007 of the same view as photo above

GN Steam Locomotive #748

2011-09-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

This 1949 picture shows GN Steam Locomotive, #748 resting on the mainline in Palisades on the down grade. This locomotive was a G-3 Class 4-8-0 (twelve wheeler). The locomotive is pulling two coal tenders and a mixed train. The structure in the middle of the picture is the water tower, the building on the right is one of two cold storage warehouses used to store fruit, and the track on the right is the siding. This particular locomotive was scrapped in 1953. Thanks to Bob Kelly for providing the photo.

Douglas Depot

2011-08-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Date unknown

Riding the old ROW

2011-08-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20R59Dke2Vw

The first part of this video shows me riding on the old road bed between Bridge #10 (near McCue) and #9 (near the old tunnel) on the down grade. Make sure you set the video to HD.

Douglas in 1984

2011-07-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

This picture taken by Alan Loebsack in the late winter/early spring of 1984. These BN locomotives are pulling the unit grain train through the Douglas Siding and on pass the depot which was retired 9 years prior in 1975. To the right of the train are piles of grain doors used to seal up the box cars before being filled with grain. About one year later, the depot would host the site of the "last train" (additional photos) ceremonies on March 2, 1985. Here is a picture of the same train crossing Highway 2 in Douglas. Aerial photos of Douglas Siding over the years. Here is map of where Douglas was located on the Mansfield Line.

Here are some more photos (1) (2) (3) (4) showing BN era action in Douglas

Bridge #25 then and now

2011-07-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Pictured above is bridge trestle #25 on the Mansfield Branch. This picture was taken in the spring of '49 after the repairs to it were completed. This bridge, along with many others, were severly damaged in the June '48 flood and was closed 9 months for repairs. The frame bents are still resting in place today. This bridge was orginally constructed 137.5' long and consisted of 9 trestle bents and 2 mud sills. It was also built on a curve. . 2006 photo of bridge 1949 aerial of bridge Photo provided by the Skykomish Historical Society.

November 2007 of the same view as above

Change of alignment

2011-06-24T13:49:00.001-07:00

This is a small section along the MB Line that had an alignment shift. Most likely because of the major flood of '48. See the pervious post for pictures of this area.

Kelly Davis Crossing 5-27-11

2011-05-31T09:27:00.001-07:00

Checked out the line between the Kelly Davis Crossing and Bridge #36 (this location about 1 mile south of Alstown, WA). Found and old alignment on the other side of the creek with ties still laying in place. Probably abandoned after the '48 flood, my guess. Nice and wet on the Waterville Plateau with beautiful looking wheat. Happy for the farmers!

Cut looking on the down grade just south of Bridge #35

Old tie and plate still in the ground on the old alignment (see map for location)

Old ties on the old alignment

old ties

Looking across Bridge #36 on the down grade

Rock cut at south end of bridge #36 on the down grade

Rock cut at the south end of Bridge #36 on the up grade

Kelly Davis County Road Crossing. Mansfield Branch Line Bridge #33 was just to the right of that crossing. Pilings still visible.

Grade between Bridge #36 and Bridge #35. Looking on the down grade.

Looking at where Bridge #36 use to cross the creek. Hoppers derailed here in '84

Rock cut at south end of Bridge #36. Looking on the down grade.

Bridge #17

2011-04-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

Bridge #17 on the Mansfield Branch that was washed out in June of '48. The view of this photo is looking up stream. About a mile up stream is where Duffy Creek enters Douglas Creek. Photo provided by Skykomish Historical Society.

Fun times...

2011-03-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

My brother (left) and I standing next to a hopper car that derailed a little south of Alstown on the MB line. This was one of 3 cars that broke loose from Douglas. On this day my dad, mom, brother and I rode snowmobiles from Alstown all the way down to the Tunnel on the tracks. I remember crossing over the bridges and riding through the tunnel. We never touched snow the whole way. Fun memories! 1985 photo.

Check out the wreck photos here

Douglas Depot in 1971

2011-03-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Click on the links below to see the Douglas Depot as looked in 1971

http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/Lists/GN_Newby_Photos1/DispForm.aspx?ID=1012

http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/Lists/GN_Newby_Photos1/DispForm.aspx?ID=1023

Withrow '84

2011-02-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

Wenatchee World May 17th, 1952

2011-01-31T09:06:00.001-08:00

Accident location 2010 photo looking northeast

Accident location 2010 photo looking southwest

Accident occured on May 16th, 1952

Bucking the snow

2011-01-31T08:21:00.001-08:00

Waterville Railway Co. Locomotive 4-6-0 #299 plowing its way through the heavy snow near a cattle guard crossing. The photographer was Chester Lockwood, a local man. C. 1914. Photo provided by Harold Badten.

Bon Spur/Appledale

2011-01-22T10:00:00.001-08:00

This picture taken in 1983 by John P. Henderson. This train is between Bon Spur and Appledale headed on the up grade with about 40 empty boxcars in tow.

Boom Town

2011-01-10T07:40:00.001-08:00

Mansfield in the early days. c. 1914

Washout at Mile Post 26.5

2010-12-24T10:09:00.001-08:00

Above photo showing damage that took place in June of 1948. Skykomish Historical Society photo.

November 2007 photo of the same view as above.

Alstown in the early spring of '84

2010-11-30T07:16:00.000-08:00

Alan Loebsack photos

1948 photo of Bridge #9

2010-11-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

June 1948 photo showing flood damage and what's left of brige #9

1948 photo of bridge repaired

This trestle was located just a little bit north of the tunnel. It was orignally built with 19 trestle bents and 4 mud sills. Photo provide by the Skykomish Historical Society

Withrow Depot

2010-10-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

August 6, 1906 Wentachee World Article

2010-10-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

This ain't good

2010-10-12T10:22:00.001-07:00

Here is another view of the coach car that wrecked at Douglas in 1920. Photo provided to me by Harold Badten. From an older post

Wrecked locomotive

2010-09-29T13:37:00.001-07:00

Flooding on the month of July in 1923 caused the subgrade under the track to washout. This locomotive was heavily damaged when it rolled into Douglas Creek. This accident happened about 1.4 miles south of Douglas. Thanks to Harold Badten for the photos.

ROW and Track Plans

2010-09-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

These blueprints below are from Great Northern Railway’s Engineer/Right-of-way Drawings. These were the original drawings submitted by GNRY to Douglas County and Certified by the State of Washington for start of construction. The following sample prints show all the locations of the bridge trestles within these documents. The date on these documents is 1908, but ROW acquisition began as early as 1906. These Documents have been residing in the courthouse vault for the last 100 years.

Bridge 8: 4 trestle bents and 2 mud sills

Bridge 42: 8 pile bents (1) 16’ opening for wagon road

Bridge 41: 4 pile bents, 8 trestles on piles, 3 cripple trestles and (1) 12’ opening for wagon road

Bridge 40: 10 pile bents

Bridge 39: Pile bulkheads

Bridge 38: 4 pile bents

Bridge 37: 9 pile bents

Bridge 34: 9 pile bents/ Bridge 35: 10 pile bents/ Bridge 36: 10 pile bents

Bridge 31: 8 trestle bents/ Bridge 32: 10 trestle bents/ Bridge 33: 10 trestle bents

Bridge 29: 9 trestle bents/ Bridge 30: 9 trestle bents

Bridge 28: 9 trestle bents/ Bridge 29: 9 trestle bents

Bridge 27: 9 pile bents

Bridge 25: 9 trestle bents and 2 mud sills/ Bridge 26: 17 trestle bents and 2 mud sills

Bridge 22: 10 pile bents/ Bridge 23: 9 pile bents/ Bridge 24: 10 pile bents

Bridge 18: 10 pile bents/ Bridge 19: 6 frame bents and 6 pile bents
Bridge 20: 6 trestles on piles and 6 pile bents/ Bridge 21: 9 pile bents/ Bridge 22: 10 pile bents

Bridge 14: 5 trestles on piles and 6 pile bents/ Bridge 15: 7 trestles on piles and 4 pile bents
Bridge 16: 8 pile bents/ Bridge 17: 8 pile bents

Bridge 12: 5 pile bents/ Bridge 13: 10 trestles on piles and 4 pile bents

Bridge 11: 12 pile bents (1) 16’ opening for wagon road

Bridge 10: 5 pile bents

Bridge 9: 19 trestle bents and 4 mud sills

Bridge 7: 15 pile bents

Bridge 5: 12 pile bents/ Bridge 6: 12 pile bents

Bridge 3: 12 pile bents/ Bridge 4: 6 pile bents

Bridge 2: 14 pile bents

Supplee in the late Winter of 1984

2010-07-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

About the only thing Supplee had was grain facilities, a section house, bunk house and some out buildings. These were all removed about the early 30's except the grain facilities. Supplee never had a depot according to records or any of my research.

More GN AFE's

2010-06-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

Great Northern Railway AFE’s ( Authorization For Expenditure) on the Mansfield Branch
Info compiled from Great Northern Railway Historical Society Archives

Columbia River
1946 Install steel span bridge #1

Bon Spur
1952 Install Bonneville Power Spur
1957 Grading, ditching, roads and culvert work

Appledale
1947 Replace steel span bridge #2
1949 Repair flood damaged steel span bridge #2
1963 Renew bridge #2
1966 Renew stringers on bridge #2

Palisades
1911 Install 4,975’ of Right of way fence
1915 Remove mail crane
1922 Retire car body depot
1927 Retire fill in bridge #8
1932 Renew timbering on tunnel
1936 Retire Depot
1936 Stream channel and rip-rap bridge #3
1945 Renew timbers in tunnel
1947 Replace bridge #3
1952 Repair tunnel
1964 Fill in bridge #4

McCue
1918 Install mail crane from Rock Island
1928 Remove mail crane
1940 Alter bridge #11
1949 Move camp buildings to Loon Lake, WA
1962 Renew bridge #9
1963 Renew bridge #11, 14, 20, 21, 25
1964 Renew bridge #10, 14, 15, 17, 26, 30
1965 Renew bridge #15-fill 4 spans, #16-fill 1 span
1966 Renew bridge #22

Alstown
1915 Install car body depot
1916 Install portable stock chute
1928 Rip-rap from Alstown to Douglas
1936 Retire section house and bunk house
1950 Remove water tank and pump
1956 Move section buildings
1964 Renew bridge #30
1964 Fill easterly span on bridge #27
1966 Re-drive bridge #30, 31 pilings

Douglas
1912 Transfer track for Waterville Railway Co.
1917 Extend industry track
1919 Install Waterville Railway Co. Engine Wye
1937 Install automobile unloading platform
1938 Repair flood damage-grading, ditching, roads and culverts
1941 Install driveway around depot
1946 Install electrical lights in depot
1947 Install 2-wire telephone circuit-mile post 35 to 37
1949 Extend Cent Mills Spur
1956 Acquire Waterville Railway Co. tracks
1956 Move section buildings
1957 Renew bridge 39
1960 Drill well for depot and section house
1962 Purchase pick-up truck

Supplee
1921 Remove section house and privies, moved to Omak, WA
1957 Grading, ditching, roads and culvert work

Withrow
1915 Move water tank to Glasgow, MT
1916 Remove pump house
1916 Install stockyard
1918 Install section foreman’s cottage
1919 Install private spur track
1929 Section house moved from Withrow to Mohler, WA
1930 Section house moved to Brewster, WA
1928 Remove section buildings
1932 Remove Standard Oil Spur
1936 Retire Depot
1940 Grading, ditching, roads and culvert work
1944 Extend industry track
1957 Renew bridge #41

Touhey
1964 Renew bridge #42

Mansfield
1913 Install portable unloading platform
1916 Install Standard Oil Spur
1917 Install express lockers in depot
1918 Install unloading platform
1920 Lay cinder ballast-Columbia River to Mansfield
1922 Repairs to bridges
1923 Install Columbia Valley Lumber Spur
1931 Remove engine house, coaling platform and 4 tracks
1932 Move tool house from Palisades to Mansfield
1940 Remove industry track
1941 Remove tail end of wye
1942 Remove depot
1942 Remove water tank
1949 Install crossover track between main line and siding
1956 Move section buildings
1957 Retire right of way on Mansfield Branch Extension
1963 Rearrange bents on bridge #43
1964 Rearrange bents and steel span on bridge #43

Farewell

2010-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Locals gather at the Douglas Depot to see off the very last train to run the Mansfield Branch Line. The pictures above were taken by Alan Loebsack on March 2, 1985, 76 years after the line opened. One year later the line would be ripped out. The wood ties would go to landscape supply companies and the steel rails where shipped to Korea to be melted down. In 1994, the depot would see the same fate as it was burned down thus eliminating almost any evidence a railroad ran through the area.

Memorial Day Weekend Ride (Sunday) 5-30-10

2010-06-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

I took a nice ride on the Line between Douglas and Withrow on my bike and it was surprisingly easy going. It was an overcast Sunday afternoon of Memorial Weekend. The following pictures below are from that ride.

Looking on the upgrade across bridge #40 just south of Douglas

Large cast culvert pipe just a mile or so SW of Supplee

Supplee

AC 440 tractor used to push box cars back in the day

Withrow

Station sign poles

What remains of bridge #41

I came across a large pile of galvanized flashing. I assumed it came from bridge #41

McCue in late 1970's

2010-05-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

Train coming around bend on the downgrade nearing the old McCue Siding

Locomotives starting to cross bridge #10 which spans creeks that comes from McCue Spring in Pegg Canyon.

Tail end of train crossing bridge #10

BN EMD GP-9 Locomotives #1804 & #1767 on drowngrade leaving McCue and headed for the tunnel down by the falls.

Caboose having just passed through McCue

Up ahead the front end of the train ready to cross bridge #9 and enter the tunnel

Pictures taken by Alan Loebsack

Withrow, Wa

2010-04-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

1984 photo

A difference of 24 years

2010-04-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

1984 photo (Taken by Alan Loebsack)

2008 photo

Photo locations at the Kelly Davis Crossing about 1.75 miles south of Alstown, Wa. Upper photo showns GP-9 #1804 and #1805 crossing bridge #33 on the downgrade. Lower photo shows only pilings remaining.

Creeping through town

2010-04-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Geep #1804 crossing Highway 2 at Douglas in the late winter of 1984. Picture taken by Alan Loebsack

Not ready for the torch just yet

2010-03-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Class E-13 Baldwin Locomotive built in 1896 for the Spokane Falls & Northern Railway as their #10. Acquired by Great Northern Railway, renumbered as #949 in 1907, put out of service in 1932 and scheduled for the scrap yard in 1934. It sat in the Spokane’s Hillyard yard dead for 2 years before the Waterville Railway Co. purchased it in 1934 and saved it from the torch. The WRY Co. placed it into service for the next 13 years and in May 1947 it was eventually scrapped. This locomotive was replaced by a small diesel locomotive. One year later the WRY Co. Line would be washed out and never rebuilt. Top photo shows the locomovtive in 1932 covered in snow at the Hillyard yard and the bottom photo shows the locomotive in service in 1936 on the Waterville Line.

Great Northern AFE's

2010-03-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

Info compiled from Great Northern Railway Historical Society Archives

Appledale

1912 Install standard mail crane one mile north of Appledale
1913 Place car body for depot
1936 Place riprap and straighten stream @ bridge #3 two miles north on main line ($145.00)
1938 Remove mail crane ($1.00)
1940 Remove 1785’ of side track ($320.00)

Palisades
1911 Install 4975’ of right of way fence ¼ mile west of Palisades
1911 Install wooden mail crane
1926 Between Palisades and Alstown, furnish and place 20,000 S.H. Tie Plates, replacing
Glendon Tie Plates on curves. ($3,390.00)

McCue
1935 Replace 5,000 No.G-58 Tie Plates with S.H. 5-58 plates on curves between McCue and Alstown ($724.00)
1963 Relay main line track with S.H. 112# rail ($30,900.00)

Alstown
1912 Install a private crossing ½ mile south of Alstown
1968 Renew bridge #37.5

Douglas
1910 Construct 48’ x 48’ one-pen stockyard ($200.00)
1912 Construct public highway 1,090’ long ($360.00)
Withrow
1915 Move water tank and 400 gallon gas tank to Bainville, Montana ($230.00)

Mansfield
1911 Place private crossing one mile southwest of Mansfield
1914 Place a portable incline unloading platform ($65.00)

Misc. AFE’s along line
1911 Install telephone in baggage car on Mansfield Branch Line ($23.00)
1928 Columbia River Siding to Mansfield, furnish and place 5,000 S.H. 5-58 Tie Plates on curves ($850.00)
1938 Columbia River Siding to Mansfield, place 6,309 S.H. Rail Anchors ($330.00)

Great Northern Railway AFE’s on the Waterville Railway Co.

Waterville
1909 Construct additional ten miles of telegraph line on the Waterville Extension
1910 Change four public road crossings on the Waterville Line as ordered by the State Railroad commission ($703.00)
1910 Place riprap, pipe culverts and build bridge trestles ($4,815.00)
1912 Install 15’ mail compartment in baggage car #1012 ($356.00)

Tunnel

2010-02-12T07:37:00.000-08:00

1986 photo of the north tunnel portal entrance on the MB line at the Doulgas Creek Falls. This photo was taken a year after the line was offically abandoned by Burlington Northern. A couple of months after this photo was taken, the rails were torn up and shipped to Korea to be melted down.

WRY Map

2009-11-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

Parked on the Palisades Siding

2009-11-18T11:30:00.001-08:00

Great Northern Railway maintenance flat car, #X4125 resting on the Palisades Siding next to a fruit warehouse. This car was probably getting ready for use, since the line needed many repairs during the spring months. Photo taken by Mac McCulloch on March 18, 1968. Photo provided by Bob Kelly.

Great Northern Railway Wedge Plow, #X1584 parked at the Palisades Siding on March 18, 1968. This plow was probably assigned to the line to clear large snow drifts up on the plateau in late winter and early spring. Photo was taken by Mac McCulloch when he was just a kid. Photo provided by Bob Kelly.

Waterville Railway Co. Locomotive 949

2009-11-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

1949 aerials of the Waterville Railway Co. Bridge locations

2009-10-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Locations of bridge #1 and #2 shown in the aerial are near the "s" curves along highway 2 between Watervlle and Doulgas.

Bridge #3 and #4 are located across Highway 2 from the old DOT rock quarry between Waterville and Douglas.

Bridge #5 is located just south of Douglas. In the photo you can see the engine wye and the Mansfield line that runs parallel to the Waterville Railway.

1909 Wenatchee World Article

2009-10-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Bridge #21 at the intersection of Douglas and Duffy creeks

2009-10-22T07:20:00.001-07:00

bridge damage caused by 1948 flood

Bridge Repaired

2007 photo of the same location as above

1940's look at GN box cars resting on the Withrow Siding.

2009-10-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Sept. 18, 2009 trip down through Douglas Creek

2009-09-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

Snapped a few pictures of the old MB Line while riding my Honada XR650L motorcycle down through Douglas Creek. It was a beautiful hot afternoon with not a soul around. The following pictures are of the line between Slack Canyon and about 2 miles north of Palisades. Enjoy!

Down grade 2 miles north of Palisades near Airplane Canyon

Down grade about 1/2 mile south of the tunnel

Rock cut on the down grade about .25 miles south of the tunnel

Up grade view looking at the south tunnel portal entracne. You can still see a little bit of timber from the tunnel that is exposed out the the hillside.

Standing on top of the tunnel looking on the down grade at the south tunnel portal entrance. Notice the sink hole at the bottom of the picture.

Standing on the upper road lookin down at the North tunnel portal entrance

Looking across bridge #9 on the down grade

Down grade view between bridge #10 and #9

Up grade view just after bridge #11

Looking on the down grade across bridge #11

Up grade view .25 mile up from bridge #11

Up grade view across the creek from Mohr Canyon

Aug 2009 photos on the MB Line

2009-08-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

I when out for a nice ride on my Honda XR650L and snapped a few pictures of the old grade. These pictures were taken a few miles north and south of Alstown. Enjoy!

Bridge #36 looking on the upgrade south of Alstown

Looking on the down grade at the Kelly Davis Crossing

Standing on top of a rock cut just south of the elevators at Alstown

About a mile north of Alstown looking on the down grade

About a mile north of Alstown looking on the upgrade

looking on the down grade about 2.5 mile north of Alstown

Bridge #38.5 at Daling's Farm next to their cattle corrals. This would be almost in the middle of Douglas and Alstown.

Snow plow wreck on the MB

2009-06-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Photo showing a wrecked wedge snow plow, gondola full of coal and a steam locomotive. From the looks of the photo, the plateau must have been hit by a large snow storm. Exact location and date unknown. But I think it is near Supplee. Thanks to Bob Kelly for providing this photo!

GN Standard Pile Trestle for Branch Lines

2009-05-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

These are some construction plans that I drew up in AutoCAD. I reproduced these plans from Great Northern plans dating back to 1921. Enjoy.....

1917 panorama of Great Northern operations in Mansfield, WA

2009-05-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

This is a picture that I scanned in and stitched together using a free online program called Auto Stitch. I touched up the photo by using Photoshop. This picture was provided to me by Darold Wax of Wenatchee.

Bridge #7 at Palisades

2009-04-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

This was three separate photos that I stitched together using Auto Stitch. Photo provided to me by Bob Kelly (date unknown). Aerial of this bridge from 1949

Mansfield Depot in 1947

2009-03-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

1147 at Mansfield

2009-03-15T16:53:00.001-07:00

Henry Gallaher standing next to GN loco #1147 in Mansfield around 1947. This locomotive now sits at a park in Wenatchee Wa.
#1147 blowing steam near the Mansfield Depot. 1947

Wenatchee Daily World article from 1910

2009-03-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

Waterville Railway bid awarded and ready to start construction.

GN article from 1907

2009-03-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

1908 article from the Wenatchee Daily World

2009-03-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

Waterville Railway Co. Ticket and depot photo

2009-03-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

Ticket is pre 1948

1911 photo

Douglas: Then and Now

2009-03-10T07:40:00.002-07:00

You can see the depot in the 1949 and 1990 aerials. This depot was the last Burlington Northern structure on the line until it was burned down in 1994. It lasted 9 years after the line was removed. The structure just the the right of the depot on the 1949 aerial was used as an automobile ramp. It was removed in the early 70's.

2006 Google Earth aerials

2008-12-30T15:26:00.000-08:00

Box car blueprints

2008-12-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

1/4 mile before the tunnel on the upgrade

2008-12-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

Here is a 2006 picture showing the abandoned grade just before the tunnel. Bridge #8 was located just a few hundred yards up ahead. From my research, this bridge was only in place for a couple decades before it was removed and replaced with fill instead. The view from this spot is amazing as you look out across Moses Coulee.

Article about the Waterville Railway Co. Date unknown

2008-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

End of an era in Douglas County

2008-12-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Cover of the Magazine that featured last train on MB Line. July 1985

Last train just west of the famous "Double Bridge" heading towards Malaga. (2) BN GP39-2's #2730 and #2738, (40) 40' box cars and (1) caboose where hauled out. Photo by T.O. Repp

Locals gathered at Douglas to see last train off. Photo by T.O. Repp

Change of line

2008-12-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

Perfect example of where after the 1948 flood GN moved the grade. Here in this picture, I'm standing on the relocated grade on the west and can see the 1909-1948 grade on the east side. Just around the bend was bridge #28 which was removed and never replaced in 1949 when the line was reopened. After I took this picture, I hiked over to the old grade and found one old tie with a plate and spike still intact. I never did get a picture of it, stupid me. Telegraph poles still litter the ROW. Some even have wire hanging from them. Looking on the down grade. 2008 photo

East of Withrow Wa in 1983

2008-12-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

You can see the Withrow Grain Elevators in the distance.

Shot of entire train in Moses Coulee 1983

2008-12-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

Leading the Way

2008-12-04T11:22:00.001-08:00

Ridin' the brakes

2008-11-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

John Henderson snapped this shot a little south of the tunnel looking back towards Palisades. In the distance the loaded unit train has its brakes working overtime to keep things under control. 1983 photo

Solitude

2008-11-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

Lonely stretch of track just north of the Douglas. 1983 photo

Early morning jaunt up onto the plateau

2008-11-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Up grade shot of short train exiting north end tunnel portal

BN #1754 in Alstown

2008-11-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

New alignment

2008-11-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

After the '48 flood bridge #18 and #19 were taken out and the line relocated. Today you can still see the old grade between these two bridges.

2007 picture looking on the down grade

Tunnel collapse

2008-11-06T07:23:00.000-08:00

These pictures where taken in 2000 when part of the tunnel on the old Mansfield Branch caved-in. Douglas County Maintenance Crews spent some time filling the sink hole some 15 years after the last train passed through it.

The shortest railroad

2008-11-06T07:11:00.001-08:00

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Pages out of a book profiling the history of the Big Bend Area. Called "Beginnings" .

Various pictures of the Waterville Railway Co. Depot

2008-11-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

Construction on the MB Line

2008-11-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

According to the Waterville Museum, this picture shows construction of the MB Line. Probably around 1908 or '09.

Douglas Creek Washout

2008-11-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

Pulling a train engine out of Douglas Creek was quite a feat as this photo indicates. Runoff from the Big Bend wheat fields down Douglas Creek in 1923 washed away most of the bridges along Great Northern Mansfield line, south of Douglas. The engine plunged into the water, but no one was injured. (World file photo)

After looking at Google Earth, it looks like the location of this accident was about 1.4 miles south of Douglas.

Box cars litter siding

2008-11-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

1983 photo showing NP, CB&Q, GN and BN box cars filling up the siding at Douglas on an early morning. Business seems to look good according to this photo. Almost two years to the day, the train would make its final run and 9 years after that, the depot would be burned down. A large crib grain warehouse would be torn down and lumber sold not long after the depot was torched. Thus completely eliminating any sign of railroading in Douglas, WA.

Early days of the Douglas Depot

2008-11-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

One woman, two men and a young boy pose for this picutre while they wait for the train in Douglas. Date 1911

Time Table

2008-11-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Date Unknown

Bridge #25 on the up grade

2008-11-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture I took a rainy day on April 1, 2006. This shows where bridge #25 used to cross Douglas Creek. All that remains is a large concrete abutment at the south end, 2 frame bents, cut off pile bents and a long wooden retaining wall that holds back the road grade at the north end between this bridge and bridge #26. From the looks of it, this bridge must have been susceptible to scour by the way GN/BN reinforced it. The creek was running pretty good during this time of year from the snow melt, but during the summer and fall months it is bone dry.

Wenatchee Daily World Article

2008-11-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

1957 shot showing the MB Line running underneath the SR28 overpass. Back then I guess it was called US2.

'48 flooding in Moses Coulee

2008-11-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

This photographter was standing on bridge #3 when he snapped these pictures while the water was still high. My grandma told me in the summer of 1948, Douglas county received a couple inches of rain in a couple of hours causing a massive flood. Everyone refers it as the '48 flood. Must have been a sight to see.

The heart of Moses Coulee

2008-11-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

Looking down the tracks with bridge #3 in view. 1983 photo

Simple map of the MB

2008-11-03T15:39:00.000-08:00

This is a map I created using AutoCAD and Photoshop. It is not very detailed compared to the other map I posted.

Alstown action

2008-11-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

BN geeps on mainline with empty box cars from the trip up on the siding. I don't have very many memories of this line when it was in operation because I was only 5, but the memories I do have are in Alstown. My dad used take us on Sunday drives and would sometimes let us play on the box cars.
One time in the late winter of 1985-86, my dad and mom took my brother and I down the tracks from Alstown to the tunnel. We did it on snowmobiles. I can still remember crossing over the trestles and watching the water rush underneath. Arctic Cat Panther 440's carried us all the way down and back never touching snow at all. Just ties. Fun times......

Mainline merging

2008-11-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

MB train merging back onto to the BN mainline at Columbia River. 1983

Just South of Touhey, WA

2008-11-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

Tracks out in the middle of sagebrush. This picture is taken looking southwest down the rails with Touhey just behind the photographer John P. Henderson. 1983

South of Appledale

2008-11-03T09:26:00.000-08:00

This picture appears as if it is traveling on the upgrade, but really its on the downgrade. This train is about 1 mile south of Appledale and traveling at a speed of 15 mph. 1983

Tie plate

2008-11-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

This is one of about three single shoulder tie plates that I found while hiking between Slack Canyon and Alstown. This particular plate was manufactured by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in 1924 and it's the only one that was in mint condition. The rest had blow torch marks.

BN action in Douglas, WA

2008-11-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

Burlington Northern working in 1983 at the facilities of CWGG. Sad it's gone......

On the down grade at Douglas Creek Falls

2008-11-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

2007

1983

Loaded box cars are pushing against 2 geeps on a 2.2% grade in the late afternoon hours in March of '83. These locos have just crossed over bridge #9 with the rest still crossing it. The north portal end of the 750' tunnel is just ahead. John P. Henderson took this picture standing on top. In 2000 part of the tunnel collapsed about where John is standing in this picture creating a huge sink hole. Douglas County maintenance crews filled it with a couple thousand yards of soil.

Box cars on the move in Douglas

2008-11-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

This picture shows 2 geeps and a caboose just arriving in Douglas after dropping off 5 empties in Alstown. They arrived to see empty box cars that had drifted onto the mainline from the Douglas siding. My uncle, who used to work for Central Washington Grain Growers, said this was sometimes done, to run a few empties onto the mainline and clear up the siding. As long as they didn't get away, I supposed BN was ok with this.

Lonesome track

2008-11-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken about 1 mile east of withrow near a crossing.

Box cars in wait in Douglas, WA

2008-11-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

This picture shows a train load of 40' box cars ready to depart Douglas, WA on a late afternoon day in March of 1983. These cars are loaded with winter wheat harvested from the summer before. According to engineering plans, this section of track was 77.5 lb rail.