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.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Monday, June 12, 2017
Hopper crash
Wrecked hopper car north of Alstown. 1984 photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville. Here is a link to more info and photos about this wreck.
MB Line Stations
Early 1980 photos of Palisades, Alstown, and Withrow Stations. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville.
Off to School
Passenger train with banners that read “Washington State College” draped on the side of some cars gets ready to depart Waterville on Sept. 19, 1910. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville. Date of 1914 on photo is incorrect.
WRY Tracks
Looking west down the WRY tracks towards the grain industry siding. Date unknown. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville.
Sunday School Picnic
Caption reads: “Waterville Special picking up Sunday School Picnicers”. Photo Lockwood. The train stops to pick up people in Douglas, Wash. to head into Waterville which is only 4 miles away. Date unknown. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville.
Moving through snow in Dougals
Caption reads: “Waterville Train Arrives at Douglas”. Feb. 5, 1916. Photo Lockwood. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville.
Deep snow on the WRY
Waterville Railway Co. employee shovels snow out away from loco #299. Date unknown. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville.
Cozette Brady
Cozette Alice "Cozy" Ogle Brady (1905-1993) pictured in front of the Depot at Douglas on March 2, 1985. She and many others were participating in the ceremony commemorating the last train to run the Mansfield Branch Line. Her husband John "Jack" Brady was a long time agent on the line until he retired in 1959. He died 10 years later in 1969. Photo from the Douglas County Museum in Waterville.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Letter to Department of Revenue Oct 1974
WRY to use a Truck to Haul Wheat
Interstate Commerce Commission allows Waterville Railway Co. to use a truck to haul wheat to Douglas since it no longer had a railway. 1950.
Monday, May 1, 2017
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