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.

Bridge #26

June 1948 flood damage to bridge #26.

Bridge repaired.  1949 aerial of this bridge.

Pictures provide by the Skykomish Historical Society.

Supplee in 1983

Supplee in 1983.  Siding full and leftover box cars getting pushed on into Withrow.  Blair Kooistra photos

1942 look at the Waterville Railway Co. Engine House.

Here is a couple pictures of the engine house as of August 2012. 
70 years later.

October 1983 photos.  Taken from the SR 28 Overpass looking north up Moses Coulee in the early morning.  Photo by John P. Henderson.

Douglas in 1942

The Wenatchee Daily World: October 23, 1909

Picture of Contractor John Mohr and his crew starting work on the line.

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.

1942 Seattle Times photo

Walter Holmes (1890-1957)

John Sekavec (1879-1964)

The Wenatchee Daily World: November 27, 1909

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.

  1986 picture of this bridge.  2011 aerial.

The Wenatchee Daily World: April 10, 1909

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.

The Wenatchee Daily World: October 18, 1909

"Last Train" on the down grade just ready to pass under the SR 28 Overpass.  Photo by Tim Repp.  

March 2, 1985.

The Wenatchee Daily World: April 8, 1909

The Wenatchee Daily World: Sept. 22, 1909

The Wenatchee Daily World: Date 1916

Quad-City Herald: July 22, 1982

Quad-City Herald: August 13, 1981

Train on the down grade.  June 14, 1981.  Photo by Tim Repp

Aerial of photo loction

Herald-Reporter: May 27, 1948

Station Sign Detail

Walter Holmes (1890-1957) is seen here picking a chopping away at the ice on the grade crossing on Highway 2 just east of Waterville.  Walter wore many hats while he worked for the Waterville Railway Co.  He was the fireman on locomotive 949, conductor, brakeman, switch-man as well as section gang.  Picture taken in the winter of 1942.

Seattle Times Photo showing steam locomotive 949 about a half mile south of Douglas, WA.  Picture is looking south taken in Feb. 1942.

Bridge #9

This picture taken one year after abandonment, shows some people playing around on bridge #9.  Ryan Reed photo.  March 8, 1986.

Early '80's

Train on the down grade about a mile south of Douglas.  You can see the steeple on the Douglas Church in the background.  Picture by Alan Loebsack 

Sounds of the MB

Local historians gather to say goodbye

Waterville area locals pose for a picture in front of Burlington Northern Locomotive, GP39-2, #2730 during the “Last Train” ceremonies on March 2, 1985 in Douglas, WA.  Some of these people were on the Douglas County Historical Society at the time.  L to R:  Forrest Barnes (1912-2002), Alice Jacobsen (1925-2013), Roxanne Viebrock (1912-2004), person unknown, Edna Slusser-George (1907-2003), Glorian Eggers (1925-2008) and Nadra Betcher.  The cameraman was from 27 News, a now defunct Wenatachee TV Station.  I have tried to track down footage they shot of the last train, but all the the 27 News archive film was destroyed years ago.  Picture provided by Anita Sprauer.

Supplee in '83

Supplee, WA.  John P Henderson photo

Exiting the Tunnel

Train exiting the south portal of the tunnel for the last time on the down grade.  March 2, 1985.  Tim Repp photos.

Piece of rail finished

Finished rail display I had at the NCW Fair in Waterville for the Grain Growers' booth.  Sign I had made by Kimberly Gormley (Signs Etcetera) of Waterville.  Wire brushed the rail and tie plates, polyurethane finish on the ties and drilled holes in the ties and placed in the date nails.  To get the finish on the rails and ties, I spray painted them with an oil brushed bronze metallic paint and then wiped them down with thinner.  Here is the rail before.  All the items used in the construction of the rail came from the Mansfield Line. 

Box cars in Douglas March 2, 1985.  Anita Sprauer photo

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.