GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY--Historical Video---part 2 of 4

[RELeeOnTraveller]

I love the look on the guy's face at about 6:00 says it all. This is a fantastic set of film. History, history, history. This is the sort of film that a historian will always find invaluable.

[htc6600]

Great video. I love the Big Sky Blue scheme and it's great to see it on film.

[Jmsimer]

Oh, and great video, by the way. One of the best I've seen.

[Jmsimer]

Got a question maybe somebody can answer. In a lot of films from this era particularly, the locomotives tend to look very dirty - lots of dark grime. Is this mostly because the exhaust was much dirtier in that era, was it because the railroads were strapped for cash and didn't clean or repaint their locomotives often, or was it a bit of both?

[ScenicDepot]

@Jmsimer I can't answer for other railroads. In the case of the GN, the helpers were in continual use, the exhaust particulates tended to build up rapidly within the confines of the Cascade Tunnel, plus in a wet climate things tend to look grimier. The trip on the Empire Builder was shot on a mostly cloudy and sprinkly day, and the episode with the derailed  helper was also overcast, so contrast was lower. The GN was always in the black so it would not have been a cash flow problem.

[luigirules1000]

it's a bad day when i'm the only railfan at school. i'm 13, and i railfan as much as possible, i wrote my report on the old line at wellington for my project last year. Great video thanks

[ScenicDepot]

@luigirules1000

I was your age when I shot the film of the helper derailment incident.

It's tough for you not being able to drive!

[upcarknocker]

When railroading was really railroading................

[sethvold]

Extra 426 west with all those autos had to be number 97 the hottest freight on the line.

[trangerstx]

Hey guys, dont forget the GN "Old-Timers" picnic at the park in Skykomish every year.

[smwokie60]

Hey Tom This Mark O. I just wanted to say I hope You & your family had a good Christmas. Also Ihope you & yours hav e a very good new year.

[MilwaukeeSDman]

you guys had it all! I hate you!(not really) You got to ride in the SDs & Fs! Im on LI I only got to ride in a DE30AC ONCE!

[kendallscottxo]

Hey, Kevin here. I grew up with the GN then BN in the 1960's, 70's in Vancouver B.C. Canada. As a kid i loved watching the GN road freight's come in and then check out the switching. I loved the older High Nose GP9's and SW1200. Thanks for this great video! Seeing the Loco's take's me back. Kev.

[smwokie60]

I got a friend that was a signal maintainer for the Wabash, then for N&W after the Wabash fell. I went with him Quit A few times on a motor car, that was great. That was in the 80's. Back in the 50's the NYC guys let me ride in one of the E units once, that was fantastic. I've been on the EB a few times to Mn/STP. & the zeypher a couple. But the best part was the E units& the motor car. So yes we do have fun somtimes. Oh I have a Fairmont motor car, just don't get much of a chance to run it.

[smwokie60]

One question I just have to ask Tom. Do you or have you worked for the railroad since? Have you ever had the chance to ride the train through the area you & your Dad worked on?

[ScenicDepot]

Never got to work for the RR. Tried to get on with them in 1980, but unfortunately my timing was really bad--it was right after the Milwaukee had gone bankrupt, and those folks were all trying to get work with the BN.

I've ridden the train through there numerous times starting in 1965. Got to go on a track car with employees numerous times back in 1960's, either with the fire patrol or else through the tunnel, once with radioman and once with signal maintainer. Some kids get all the fun.

[smwokie60]

Just thought I would let you know I'm 62. I am working on saving the money for my wife & I to take the Empire Builder out to Seattle. My wife has a nephew in a cematary somewhere in Portland. She is not sure exactly where,but we thought we would come out & look. I thought if at all possible I would get the chance to meet you & shake your hand. It has been a fantastic little trip down memory lane with you.

[ScenicDepot]

Mark:

You flatter me greatly. I live an hour north of Spokane. Guess you aren't familiar with territory on west coast, but Spokane is 300 miles east of Seattle, and the westbound EB arrives here at 1:40am and departs at 2:15am. I am open to dropping by the depot then if you want to pop out and say hi.

Also, EB splits in half at Spokane. One part goes to Seattle; other part goes to Portland. You would be taking an extra trip if you went to Seattle first unless you want to do that anyway.

[smwokie60]

MarkO there just is'nt to much to say after that, except somtimes I hate change. Thanks again for bringing back some old memories for me. Talk to you again some time Tom.

[smwokie60]

Thanks Tom, that was good I got a chuckle out of that. I notice in the new videos of scenic that tey tore down your training ground & the house back down the way from the depot. Bet there are a few people that miss that.

[ScenicDepot]

Yes, the depot and buildings nearby were torn down in 1973, and the three houses below were demolished in 1980. I still go there every year in August to camp. Nearly all of the old timers from that era are gone now.

[smwokie60]

I forgot I worked for the Wabash railroad when I was a lot younger & I had to work a wreck one year, it was pretty d---- cold.

[smwokie60]

Hello one more time. I am curious to know how old Tom Garret is today? Watching the videos I'm thinking around 50 something. I also want to let you know how much these videos bring back a lot of memmories for me. This is why I keep bugging you guys. Thank you all. Mark O.

[nairbo007]

I am 52 now. In the section of the video where it says "Starting in 1961 Mr.Garrett had an apprentice" I was 4. I started running the controls when I was 5. If the GN officials in Seattle had had any idea that a child was running their critical bottleneck operation in the Cascades, something would have really hit the fans!

[smwokie60]

Thanks again I hope to get a chance to see it one day.

[ScenicDepot]

For a look at current operations at the east portal, type BNSF Cascade Tunnel. There are several videos available.

[ScenicDepot]

Yes, Amtrak uses this route today. From 1971 to 1981, route was changed to former Northern Pacific line (part of BN).

In 1996, original door was destroyed by failure to open completely. New horizontal door was built; vertical door remains as backup. This is BNSF primary east/west route. All stack trains to or from Seattle must go here. Tunnel on Stampede Pass has insufficient clearance.

[smwokie60]

Does Amtrak uses this line today ? I wasn't born & raised a GN person but I hung around the New york Central depot when I was a few years older than Tom G. I also hung around in the tower where the Wabash & the New York Central lines crossed each other. This is why I can relate to these videos. I don't have any videos of my roads through my town. So to me from the mid 40's to the mid 60's is what I consider some of the best years of railroading in this country. Thanks Scenic Depot.

[smwokie60]

Thanks for the info about scenic &merrit.

[smwokie60]

I would like to know where scenic &merrit are located? My atlas does'nt show them. I loved the videos very much,I would like to ride the Empire Builder to Seattle & Portland one time. I wish that our railroads were still like that, even though it was hard times it was good times I live in atown that had two roads, the Wabash & the New York Central. I wish I would have taken more pictures of those lines also. I sure do miss those days, as I am sure some of you people miss the Great Northern RR.

[ScenicDepot]

The video was made for GN fans, so I didn't spend time explaining where places are. Scenic is at the west portal of the famous 7.79 mile Cascade Tunnel. Merritt is a few miles east of the tunnel, at the end of the 2.2% downgrade on the east side. Skykomish is 13 miles west of Scenic by rail, and was the "home base" and fueling station for the helper engines. Usually helpers were added at Cashmere on the east side, but often were put in or taken out at Merritt when traffic was heavy.

[bnsfmark]

Would Sid Pierce have been any relation to retired section foreman Bob Pierce?

[ScenicDepot]

That I do not know. Sid's son just retired from the BNSF and he lives in Skykomish. He would not be hard to contact if you wanted to.

[bnsfmark]

If I have my names right, would that be Mike? Bob does have a brother that was in train service. There are other names in your recordings that live on in the employ of BNSF.

[ScenicDepot]

"Mike" seems to ring a bell, but not positive.

I have about five hours worth of Dispatcher Phone recordings from 1969 and 1970, and far more voices than what are on the video.

My dad was a friend of Sid. He let me ride his caboose once from Cashmere to Skykomish when I was 17. No big deal for a RR employee, but for me I had the time of my life.

[ScenicDepot]

Also, you can see Sid at about the 6:50 point on part 2 here, where all the guys are standing behind the caboose. Sid is the guy just to the right of center, wearing a gray hat and gray rain gear. That was his caboose. He ran the work train there and was in the vicinity, so the responsibility fell to him on this occasion.

[CPMorant]

Wonderful editing - great content / good music - really enjoyed parts 1 & 2 - will certainly look at parts 3 and 4!

[wesolint]

WOW!