The Transcontinental PNW Style

Today marks a couple of important dates in Pacific Northwest railroad history. First on this date in 1888, the Stampede Pass Tunnel was opened to traffic. The Northern Pacific had already been running trains over Stampede Pass via a switchback line that utilized a couple 2-8-0's. The tunnel's completion really truly opened the Puget Sound to the economic predominance that it has enjoyed ever since, first in Tacoma and then later in Seattle.

The second event of great importance, is the beginning of transcontinental service on the Milwaukee Road (Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul RR) in 1911. The Milwaukee Road was the last of the northern transcontinentals, unfortunately the Milwaukee Road's management would make GM's look good, if not great. The Milwaukee and its' Monroe Branch did eventually bring my grandmother's family to Carnation (my great-grandfather was a station agent). But the Milwaukee was a sorrowful line, that ceased to be in the early 1980's. Which has been previously discussed as a good thing, since we live so close to the Monroe Branch. The Northern Pacific's Stampede Pass line is still open and carries freight to this day.

So in honor of the two Northwest transcontinentals, here are pictures from both lines. I don't have any photo's of the Milwaukee as a functioning railroad, so the trail is the old Milwaukee roadbed.

Enjoy

Dan

Stampede Pass heading toward Lester