Train departs Withrow heading westbound ready to cross over SR 172 in 1984. Photo taken by Alan Loebsack. Here is a September 2007 photo of the same location.
Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1909, the 61 mile line branched off the mainline at the Columbia River and snaked its way up across Douglas County, WA to its terminus in Mansfield. In 1985 it was abandoned, thus closing the book on railroading on the Waterville Plateau. This blog is dedicated to preserving the history of the Mansfield Branch Line and Waterville Railway Co., as well as showcasing my scratch built HO scale models.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
1938 flood damage
View looking on the down grade about 850' south of bridge #27. This grade is being restored because of massive flooding. Photo taken on March 28, 1938 by F. Mears.
2007 photo of the same spot as up above.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
People
take time to check out the line one mile north of Palisades in a cut area. One year after abandonment, the line is starting
to show signs of neglect and would be ripped out later that year. Photo
taken March 8, 1986 by Ryan Reed.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Wenatchee Daily World: May 29, 1948
This flood occurred two weeks before the "big flood" in June 1948. This is bridge #37 on the Mansfield Branch. Picture taken 0.75 miles south of Alstown looking on the down grade.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Finishing touches
Mrs. O. Allmendinger (far right), and two other women, are shown here hanging up the Palisades Depot sign in 1909. The town-site of Palisades was platted in April of 1909.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Bridge #11
Damage to bridge #11 from the June 1948 flood
Bridge repaired
2007 photo of the exact same location as the photos above. Bridge photos provided by the Skykomish Historical Society.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Waterville Railway Co. Depot in 1968. Shown here 20 years after the line was washed out and 14 years after the line was abandoned. Converted to a residence in this picture. And as of 2013 it is still the home of Jim Horton. Here is a picture of the depot when it was brand new in 1911.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tim Repp snapped this picture from off the SR28 Overpass as the "Last Train" rolls down the rails. The train is crossing over the last bridge (#1), and ready to merge onto the mainline located just around the bend. This is the last picture taken of operations on this line. March 2, 1985.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Wenatchee Daily World: September 4, 1909
Here is a picture, probably about the same time this article was written, showing one of the first trains reaching Dougals.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Section crew stops work to pose for this picture while working on a leg of the engine wye in Mansfield, WA. The man second from the right, is holding a railroad track jack used to lift rail into place.
Picture taken April 11, 1914.
Picture taken April 11, 1914.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Bridge #26
June 1948 flood damage to bridge #26.
Bridge repaired. 1949 aerial of this bridge.
Pictures provide by the Skykomish Historical Society.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Supplee in 1983
Supplee in 1983. Siding full and leftover box cars getting pushed on into Withrow. Blair Kooistra photos
Thursday, December 6, 2012
1942 look at the Waterville Railway Co. Engine House.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Wenatchee Daily World: October 23, 1909
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
October 28, 1983 pictures taken by the late John P. Henderson showing the train on the down grade between the tunnel and Palisades where the Douglas Creek Canyon opens up into Moses Coulee. Dust litters the air around the box cars.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Bridge #15
Aftermath of what the June 1948 rainstorm did to Bridge #15. Photo provided by the Skykomish Historical Society.
Bridge repaired in 1949
2007 picture of same view as picture above.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Bridge #25 flood damage
Bridge #25 damage after the June 1948 flood. Looking on the down grade. More on this bridge. 1938 damage to this bridge. Photo provided by the Skykomish Historical Society.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
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