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Northern Pacific, like all railroads, had to maintain their track
and infrastructure. This required interesting equipment, and
sometimes meant picking up the pieces when things went
wrong.
and infrastructure. This required interesting equipment, and
sometimes meant picking up the pieces when things went
wrong.
| Click on Thumbnails for a larger images! |
Work train with pile driver, beefing up the roadbed
at mile post 8 between the narrows bridge and
Nelson Bennet tunnel, along Puget Sound in 1950.
W class No. 1548 waits patiently for the work to
be done. Photo by Frank Thompson.
at mile post 8 between the narrows bridge and
Nelson Bennet tunnel, along Puget Sound in 1950.
W class No. 1548 waits patiently for the work to
be done. Photo by Frank Thompson.
Bang, Bang, to work we go! As above, FB
Thompson photo, colorized by me.
Thompson photo, colorized by me.
Almost ready to start hammering away at
the piling.
the piling.
Along the NP mainline, at Centrailia
Washington, next to Martin's mill, the NP's
tramp logger went on the ground, fouling
both mains. NP wrecker 21 was called out
to clean things up. All this took place in the
summer on 1947. The guy in the white hat
and shirt has a Rolleiflex camera around his
neck and hanging on his back. Dad was still
shooting with a Voigtlander using the same
120 film. 4 years later he also bought a Rollei.
Washington, next to Martin's mill, the NP's
tramp logger went on the ground, fouling
both mains. NP wrecker 21 was called out
to clean things up. All this took place in the
summer on 1947. The guy in the white hat
and shirt has a Rolleiflex camera around his
neck and hanging on his back. Dad was still
shooting with a Voigtlander using the same
120 film. 4 years later he also bought a Rollei.
NP Wrecker No. 41 at Steilacoom WA,
picking up a dandy mess!
picking up a dandy mess!
Same wreck as above, picking up a skeleton
flat is childs play for this monster!
flat is childs play for this monster!
© 2010 Stephen Thompson
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
A snowy morning along Rock Cr., between
Pe Ell and Wallville Washington, finds
brakeman Thompson scrambling down a
bank, to photograph the work train he's
assigned to in 1950. Engine # 1677, a class
W-1 is the power on this chilly day. Photo by
FB Thompson
Pe Ell and Wallville Washington, finds
brakeman Thompson scrambling down a
bank, to photograph the work train he's
assigned to in 1950. Engine # 1677, a class
W-1 is the power on this chilly day. Photo by
FB Thompson
Miserable, wet and muddy men, dig out 1618
from a typical winter encounter on NP's
branch lines in Washington. This is probably
on the Moclips branch. TC Miller photo,
Colorized image by Stephen Thompson
from a typical winter encounter on NP's
branch lines in Washington. This is probably
on the Moclips branch. TC Miller photo,
Colorized image by Stephen Thompson
NP 542, class D-3, on South Bend Branch
work train near Pe Ell Washington early in the
1900's. The train is unloading rock using a
Lidgerwood, basically a steam winch housed
in the car in front of the engine. The
gondolas have drop sides and a plow is pulled
through the train to unload the cars.
work train near Pe Ell Washington early in the
1900's. The train is unloading rock using a
Lidgerwood, basically a steam winch housed
in the car in front of the engine. The
gondolas have drop sides and a plow is pulled
through the train to unload the cars.
Details of Lidgerwood and drop side cars.