Conductor's Lantern used on the MB

Battery powered conductor's lantern used once used on the Mansfield Line.  Given to me by Becky Jordan, a Waterville native and former conductor for Burlington Northern Railroad.

GNRy Culvert Crossing Marker Sign

Great Northern Railway Culvert Marker No. 67. This marker was located between Douglas and Supplee according to GNRy Track Plans, and these were used to identify each crossing by number. There were approximately 105 culverts that crossed under the tracks on the Mansfield Branch. Several years ago I acquired sign No. 68.

Example of a culvert marker sign shown here just west of Withrow.

Whistle Post Sign off the MB Line

Whistle Post Sign off the MB Line.  It was located in the shed rafters of a long time Withrow area resident.

Railroad Switch Stand

Great Northern Railway Switch Stand painted back to its original luster.  Recovered from Supplee, WA in the year 1986 when the Mansfield Branch Line was being removed. 

The picture below shows possibly the same switch stand at Supplee in the 1950's.

Railroad Switch Stand

A Great Northern Railway Switch Stand retrieved in 1986 from the northern end of the Supplee Siding when the line was being taken out. It now resides along my golf cart/ATV trail. 

GNRy Culvert Crossing Marker Sign

Great Northern Railway Culvert Marker No. 68.  Every culvert was marked with a steel marker sign to identify every crossing.  This marker was located somewhere between Douglas and Supplee according to GNRy Track Plans.  There were approximately 105 culverts that crossed under the tracks on the Mansfield Branch. 

Railroad Crossing Sign

Another crossbuck sign from the MB Line.

Railroad Mile Post Sign

Mile post 57 marker sign given to me a local Waterville man. This 2"x 8"x 18" piece of wood was nailed to a utility pole out between Touhey and Mansfield. The paint from the number “57” has protected the wood from some weather erosion which has left the numbers raised and still visible many years after the paint has weathered away.

Railroad Speed Limit Sign

A railroad speed limit sign given to me by a local Waterville man. The F-30 stands for “Freight Trains-30 MPH”.  He said he had retrieved it from a scrap pile in Douglas during the time the line was being removed in 1986. It had bullet holes in it and so he patched them then sanded it in anticipation of painting it.  I plan on finishing the painting work.

1960's Great Northern Railway standard plan detail for speed limit sign.

Great Northern Railway Section House in Mansfield

This structure was built by the Great Northern to house the section foreman working the Mansfield Line. The small section house resided near the grain facilities/tracks for almost 60 years until its relocation next to the airport 150 yards to the south in the mid 1970's.  In 2012 it was moved next to the Mansfield Museum.  This picture was taken during the 37th Annual Mansfield Lion's Club Auction in October 2014.    

Old Pile Bent

Found this cut off pile bent on a farm just south of Douglas.  This intact bent and several other large bridge timbers from the Mansfield Branch Line were given away by the railroad to avoid having to haul them out in 1986.

Mansfield Station Sign

I was able to acquire this great piece of MB Line memorabilia over the past weekend. This station sign from Mansfield had been residing in a trailer park in Waterville and was just recently visible from the road. I contacted the owner of the park within hours of my brother discovering the sign, I purchased it.   This sign is of Great Northern Railway design and most likely dates back to the 1950's or 1960's .  Great find to add to our collection. 

Below is a Great Northern Railway Standard Plan for a typical station sign.  Drawing is dated 1960.  Drawing was then revised in 1964.  

Section House in Mansfield

16' x 24' two room section house built in Mansfield by the Great Northern Railway in 1909.  It was labeled on the GNRY track plans as 'Jap Ho' (Japanese House).  It was retired, along with several other buildings, in 1956 and removed off site in 1958.  It was one of two section houses built in Mansfield by the railroad.  It was most likely occupied at one time by this man, who was killed between Withrow and Supplee in 1952 while working on the Mansfield Branch Line.  It now resides in an undisclosed location.  

For more on that accident click here.  

June 2014 photo of section house.  Bob Kelly photo.

1917 photo of section house.  The larger section house is just the the right.

1949 plans

1956 plans showing the building being retired.

1958 plans showing the building removed.

Aluminum Flanger Signs

Found these two flanger signs out between Douglas and Supplee.

Flanger Sign

Found this aluminum flanger sign with steel post out between Douglas and Supplee back in 2010.  

Piece of Rail

Cut this piece of rail with a torch out of a longer section at Withrow.  I then had Barnes Welding in Waterville cut clean ends.  I ran the brush grinder over it to clean all the rust off.  Tie plates and spike heads are all from the MB Line as well.  I will go back out and cut some short pieces of ties to finsh the dislplay.  This is 68 lb. rail manufactured by the Illinois Steel Co. in Oct. 1891.  Here is rail display I made a few years back and donated it to the Mansfield Museum.     

Aluminum Railroad Crossing Sign

Real nice crossing sign from the MB Line given to me by a Waterville native a few years back.  He acquired it back in the late 1970's and had been hanging in his family's barn. 

Glass Bead Crossing Sign

This gem was giving to me by a lady that lives near Withrow.  She had told me that her late dad, a railroad buff, had obtained it years ago possibly from the MB Line.  This could not be confirmed, but a great piece of railroad memorabilia nonetheless.  This sign is made out of thick steel and very heavy.  And only one glass bead is missing.  

Picture with camera flash off

Picture with camera flash on

Between Withrow and Touhey

I rode the old abandoned rail line grade between the Dutch Henry Draw (bridge #41), eastward to RD A NE a total of 3 miles.  The route ended 1 mile south of Touhey.  Pictures taken April 25, 2014.  Really fun little ride on the quad.  The Maxxis Bighorn Tires eat the sagebrush.  I had permission from all landowners to access this area.

Map of route.

Looking west across the Dutch Henry Draw where bridge #41 once crossed.

Looking east and standing on the east bridge approach embankment at Dutch Henry.

Looking eastward towards RD A NE.

Found this old steel flanger sign still on the post next to one of the grade crossings out there.  Railroads switched to aluminum signs in the late 1940's and early 50's.