Great Northern Rwy's Mansfield Branch Line (1909-1985) and the Waterville Railway Co. (1910-1974)

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.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

How Touhey got its name?

From the 1909 Spokane Directory

He was born in Ohio in June 1861 and died in Spokane in 1936. In 1905 he was listed as a terminal agent at Hillyard in Spokane. In 1910 he was a conductor and in 1920 he was a yardmaster. His home was in Hillyard. Data from Ancestry.com. Trying to find a connection with the MB Line. Maybe it is just a coincidence.

From the Washington State University Digital Collection

From the Spokane Chronicle May 14, 1936 page 3

Monday, April 25, 2016

ATV/Golf Cart Bridge

Dec 2014

Aug 2015

These large timber girders came off a pier from downtown Seattle.

Aug 2015

Oct 2015

The pilings used for the abutment ramp walls are from bridge trestles off the MB Line. A local farmer had several and I was able to acquire some for my bridge. Very solid.