Withrow Banner: Dec. 29, 1916

Walking the Tops

Burlington Northern crewman checks the air for the last time in Douglas, Wa.  March 2, 1985 photo by Tim Repp.

Last Bit of Action in Withrow

This grainy photo dated March 2, 1985 shows the last box cars to occupy the Withrow Siding.  Moments later these box cars would leave this ghost town never to return.  Operations on the MB Line were ceased by Burlington Northern.  Picture was taken off of SR172 looking east towards the Central Washington Grain Growers' facilities.  Anita Sprauer photo.   

Speeder car about a mile north of Palisades.  Photo by Ryan Reed taken on March 8, 1986.

1970's look at the Alstown Siding

Pictures from a Central Washington Grain Growers' brochure from the 70's

"Last Train" entering Douglas WA on March 2, 1985

Anita Sprauer photo

Last Train in Moses Coulee

Aerial map of photo location

Last Train rolling on the down grade over bridge #6 just south of Palisades.  March 2, 1985 photo taken by Tim Repp.

MB Line Abandonment Papers

These papers are from Central Washington Grain Growers, Burlington Northern Railroad and the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Thanks to Aaron Schwarz and Dan Bolyard for digging these up.

Letter Dated April 17, 1959

Early Morning Jaunt

June 14, 1981 photo of train on the up grade between the Columbia River and Bon Spur.  Tim Repp took this photo while standing on the SR 28 overpass looking north.

GN Agents and Stations

Date Nails

These date nails were given to me a couple years ago by a old lady that said her husband used to work on the MB Line.  She said her husband would collect these date nails as ties where removed and replaced with new ones.  

Piece of Rail

Reconstructed rail off the MB Line.  Found and cut rail near Alstown,  tie plates and spikes from Douglas Creek and ties I found out east of Withrow.  I cut the spikes just below the head and they are just sitting in the holes.  Cut the ties with a chainsaw.  Really hard to find ties that aren't rotten anymore.  My plan is to cut the ends of the rail and have a nice clean edges. Cover the ties with a natural wood stain. Wire wheel the plates, spikes and rail.  Then paint them with a darker metallic paint.  Drill holes in the ties and insert some date nails I have from the Line as well.  Should be a nice little piece when I'm done.  My goal is to make it shine like this.     

Rail has on it:  L. I. & S. Co. S.W. SCRANTON. 9  1901. 77 1/2. G.N. LINE.  I assume it is Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company Steel Works at Scranton.  Manufactured in Scranton, Pennsylvania in September of 1901.

The Waterville Railway: 1961 write-up By Homer G. Benton

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June 2012 photos of the Abandoned ROW

On the down grade east of bridge #14 a couple hundred feet

Looking on the up grade a couple hundred yards down from bridge #14.  Bridge is up around the bend.

On a curve between bridge #14 and #15 on the up grade

Looking on the up grade at a rock cut between bridge #14 and #15

Looking on the down grade at a rock cut between bridge #16 and #15

Withrow Depot Train Register

My brother and I went to pay Willie Nollmeyer, a Withrow native, a visit last Friday (6-22-12).  The 87 year old former mayor of Withrow has had this piece hanging in his shop since the 40's or 50's he had thought.  He told us his brother Walter Nollmeyer had taken this train schedule out of the Withrow Depot, probably about in the 30's, and had been using it as a heat shield under his wood stove to protect the floor from burning.  The Withrow depot was retired and sold in 1936.  Willie then later acquired the sign and it has been hanging in his shop for about 60 years until last Friday when he gave it to us.  It's about 3' wide by about 3.5' tall, made out of heavy gauge steel and painted black with gold lettering and grid lines.  Quite a piece of railroad history and railroad memorabilia.  Thanks Willie!  

  

Palisades: Date unknown

Looking on the down grade

The Waterville Empire Press: Feb 28, 1985

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Mansfield: June 14, 1981

Photo by Tim Repp

The Wenatchee World: March 4, 1985

Last train ran March 2, 1985

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