Mansfield Depot in 1947

GN Steam Locomotive #1147

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

The Wenatchee Daily World: October 11, 1909

Waterville Railway bid awarded and ready to start construction.

The Wenatchee Daily World: July 20, 1908

The Wenatchee Daily World: July 31, 1908

Waterville Railway Co. Ticket and depot photo

Original never used Waterville Railway Co. ticket.  c. 1948




1911 photo of the Waterville Railway Co. Depot.  

Douglas: Then and Now

You can see the depot in the 1949 and 1990 aerials. This depot was one of the last Burlington Northern structures on the line until it was burned down in Dec. 1993.  It lasted almost 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

Box car blueprints

1/4 mile before the tunnel on the upgrade

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.

End of an era in Douglas County

Cover of the "TRAINS" 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

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. 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

You can see the Withrow Grain Elevators in the distance.

Shot of entire train in Moses Coulee 1983

Leading the Way

Ridin' the brakes

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

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

Early morning jaunt up onto the plateau

Up grade shot of short train exiting north end tunnel portal

BN #1754 in Alstown

October 28, 1983.  Photo by John P. Henderson

New alignment

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

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

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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

Construction on the MB Line

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

Box cars litter siding

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

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

1920's Time Table

Bridge #25 on the up grade

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.

The Wenatchee Daily World: 1957

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

'48 flooding in Moses Coulee

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.