Forum Index > Pacific NW History > McClellan Butte old railroad grade
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crock
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crock
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PostFri Oct 20, 2006 10:35 pm 
I went up the regraded and rerouted MeClellan Butte trail today at exit 42 for the 1st time in 13 years. I'd forgotten some of the interesting historical stuff. "100 Hikes" (all my versions dating back to the 1966 edition) mentions the "long abandoned overgrown railroad grade" that is crossed about 80' vertical below the old Milwaukee Road grade. Anyone know anything about this old railroad grade?

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hyak.net
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PostSat Oct 21, 2006 9:05 am 
I know there was some significant changes with the train line around 1915 when the Hyak to Rockdale tunnel opened. Not sure if they made changes down the hill that far but I guess it could have occured. Maybe it was a leg off of the main track to access timber?

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touron
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PostSat Oct 21, 2006 2:04 pm 
A good article So my Aunt use to ride the train from Spokane to the Renton depot in the 60's. I wonder which railroad she took?

Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
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Sore Feet
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PostSat Oct 21, 2006 4:16 pm 
If she went in to Renton, it most likely would have been Northern Pacific via Stampede Pass.

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stever
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PostMon Oct 23, 2006 4:25 pm 
Actually the Milwaukee came into Renton via Snoqualmie Pass. The dinner train operates on a portion of the line that still exists. (the part that runs down Hauser Street) The NP off of Stampede Pass ran into Auburn where the trains either went North or South. SteveR

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Snowbrushy
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PostMon Oct 23, 2006 5:41 pm 
I'm confused. There was and still is a line over (under) Stampede Pass. The cut-off is still in Auburn, Wa.. Any train buffs out there? They don't use the Sno. Pass anymore.

Oh Pilot of the storm who leaves no trace Like thoughts inside a dream Heed the path that led me to that place Yellow desert stream.
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stever
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PostMon Oct 23, 2006 9:05 pm 
Sorry if I confused you. When the RR's came out west in the late 1800's/early 1900's they all picked a different route over the Cascades. The Great Northern went over Stevens Pass. This route is still used today by BNSF. The Milwaukee Road went over Snoqualmie Pass. That line was abondoned in the early 1980's and is today the John Wayne trail. The Northern Pacific went over Stampede Pass. That line was briefly shut down in the 1980's but with the increase in rail traffic (especially intermodel) in the 1990's it was re-opened and is in use today by BNSF. SteveR

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hyak.net
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PostMon Oct 23, 2006 11:54 pm 
I believe it was the railroad that was using the Stampede run at the time (possibly BNSF) that purchased the bankrupt Snoqualmie Pass line, then dismanteled it to prevent any possibility of competition.

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touron
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PostTue Oct 24, 2006 7:34 am 
Interesting Wikipedia article on the Milwaukee:
Quote:
Rejecting this, the railroad dismantled its electrification just as the 1973 oil crisis took hold. By 1974, when the electrification was shut down, the electric locomotives operated at half the cost of the diesels that replaced them. Worse, the railroad had to spend $39 million, as much as the GE-sponsored revitalisation plan, to buy more diesel locomotives to replace the electrics, and only received $5 million for the copper scrap since prices had fallen.

Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
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Snowbrushy
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PostTue Oct 24, 2006 9:14 am 
Very interesting. There is a large building in South Cle Elum that looks like an electric house where the tracks are or used to be. It may be part of the John Wayne Trail now.

Oh Pilot of the storm who leaves no trace Like thoughts inside a dream Heed the path that led me to that place Yellow desert stream.
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stever
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PostTue Oct 24, 2006 9:44 am 
Snowbrushy you are correct. That is the old electrification sub-station the Milwaukee used to provide the juice to their trains. What's interesting is that building is scheduled to be restored in the next few years. They have already restored the old Milwaukee depot that is in South Cle Elum. It contains a small diner and a museum. There is also an interpretive trail located outside the depot. The depot restoration was done by volunteers and took about 5 years. I'm guessing the sub-station restoration will take as long or maybe longer. SteveR

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Snowbrushy
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PostTue Oct 24, 2006 6:25 pm 
stever wrote:
That is the old electrification sub-station the Milwaukee used to provide the juice to their trains.
There appears to be a smaller electric station on the Tacoma/Seattle section of line in Sumner, Pierce County, by The Old Cannery. I realize now what it is. I live a block from the line in the next town over called The City of Pacific, King County; population 5,500. Our major streets have names like Chicago Blvd, Milwaukee Ave, St Pual Blvd and Pacific Ave., the original names of the railroad. Pacific, Wa is a railroad town but I doubt if the train ever bothered to stop here.

Oh Pilot of the storm who leaves no trace Like thoughts inside a dream Heed the path that led me to that place Yellow desert stream.
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