Withrow, WA Then and Now

Early 1980's photo

2010 photo

Alstown in 1984  Bridge #37.5 in view.  More photos from a previous post.  Photo by Alan Loebsack.  

The Wenatchee Daily World: October 9, 1909

September 2009 photo of same location 28 years later

Train entering the south tunnel portal entrance on the up grade.  Photos by Tim Repp taken on June 14, 1981.  From a previous post. 

South portal tunnel entrance at Douglas Creek Falls with speeder car in view.  March 8, 1986 photo by Ryan Reed.

Mansfield Oct. 1983

Standing at the end of the line looking southwest down the tracks.  Leg of the wye just to the left up ahead.

Looking southwest at the grain elevators in Mansfield.

Photos by John P. Henderson

Bridge #22

June 1948 flood damage.

Bridge repaired

Fall 2007 photo of same view as above

Bridge photos provide by the Skykomish Historical Society.  2011 aerial photo of bridge location. 

The Wenatchee Daily World: May 1, 1909

Early morning train headed eastbound on the mainline about 5 miles from the start of the Mansfield Branch.  Once this train hits the mouth of Moses Coulee, nothing but steep grades and sharp curves will be awaiting them.  These GP-9's will be working overtime trying to reach Mansfield in 4 hours time.  Oct. 1983 photo by John P. Henderson.  Picture of the same train later that day ready to merge back on the mainline.

Ol' timers pose for a picture on BN GP39-2 Locomotive  #2730.  The two men on the left and center are unknown and the man on the right is Oliver Ruud (1899-1994).  Both the year and the men are long gone.  Anita Sprauer photo taken on March 2, 1985.  "Last Train" out of Douglas.   

North portal entrance.  March 8, 1986 photo by Ryan Reed.

1970's look at Central Washington Grain Growers' facilities in Douglas.  This image was taken from a company brochure. 

Train departs Withrow heading westbound ready to cross over SR 172 in 1984.  Photo taken by Alan Loebsack.  Here is a September 2007 photo of the same location.

1938 flood damage

View looking on the down grade about 850' south of bridge #27.  This grade is being restored because of  massive flooding.  Photo taken on March  28, 1938 by F. Mears.

2007 photo of the same spot as up above.

'Last Train'  March 2, 1985.  Tim Repp Photo.

The Wenatchee Daily World: March 8, 1949

Page 1

Page 12 (article continued)

People take time to check out the line one mile north of Palisades in a cut area.  One year after abandonment, the line is starting to show signs of neglect and would be ripped out later that year.  Photo taken March 8, 1986 by Ryan Reed.

The Wenatchee Daily World: May 29, 1948

This flood occurred two weeks before the "big flood" in June 1948. This is bridge #37 on the Mansfield Branch. Picture taken 0.75 miles south of Alstown looking on the down grade.

  

The Wenatchee Daily World: October 20, 1959

John D. "Jack" Brady   (1894-1969)

Finishing touches

Mrs. O. Allmendinger (far right), and two other women, are shown here hanging up the Palisades Depot sign in 1909.  The town-site of Palisades was platted in April of 1909.

Tri-City Herald: November 9, 1984

Bridge #11

Damage to bridge #11 from the June 1948 flood

Bridge repaired

2007 photo of the exact same location as the photos above.  Bridge photos provided by the Skykomish Historical Society.  

Waterville Railway Co. Depot in 1968.  Shown here 20 years after the line was washed out and 14 years after the line was abandoned.  Converted to a residence in this picture.  And as of 2013 it is still the home of Jim Horton.  Here is a picture of the depot when it was brand new in 1911.

Tim Repp snapped this picture from off the SR28 Overpass as the "Last Train" rolls down the rails.  The train is crossing over the last bridge (#1), and ready to merge onto the mainline located just around the bend.  This is the last picture taken of operations on this line.  March 2, 1985.

The Wenatchee Daily World: September 4, 1909

Here is a picture, probably about the same time this article was written, showing one of the first trains reaching Dougals.

The Wenatchee Daily World: October 23, 1909

Speeder on Bridge #9.  Looking on the down grade.  Ryan Reed photo March 8, 1986.

The Wenatchee Daily World: November 6, 1909

1942

"Last Train" shot in Douglas.  March 2, 1985. Tim Repp photo

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.