What's Up In Warden?

April 5, 2025

Old power going away. Unit train of some sort delivered by big BNSF units. First time I've seen those here!

A Full Look At The Coulee City Engine Facility Scene

Photos courtesy of the Bonneville Power Administration.

Map courtesy of the NPRHA.

BPA was taking photos of the material staged at the engine facility, so they could construct the powerlines between Grand Coulee Dam and Midway substation. 

A Second Look At this David Ryan Heisler Photo?

"Ryan Siding RR" Heisler, as seen at Coulee City, WA, probably in 1935. David Ryan had won the bid to build the construction railroad from Coulee City to the Grand Coulee Dam site in 1934/35 and used this engine to help complete the work. The Coulee City water tank and coaling dock can be seen behind the engine. 

It was built as a 75 ton Heisler (serial number 1444), built  9/1920 for Union Lbr. Co., of Packwood Spur, WA.

Then to Hedlund Lbr. & Mfg. Co., Marcus, WA.

Then to David Ryan Construction Co., Coulee Dam, WA (Ryan Siding RR), 1934.

To Eugene Enloe, (Dealer), Spokane, WA, 1935.

To U.S. War Department, Fort Peck, MT.

New Grain Storage In Hartline

The old is gone, the new is arising.

Railroad Up Columbia Arouses Interest

From the Wenatchee "World."

July 10, 1966

Runaway Train Recalled

From the Wenatchee "World."

June 27, 1968

Equipment Dam-Bound

No date, but during the building of the third powerhouse at Grand Coulee Dam.

1960 Coulee City Aerial View

 Click for a very large view.

1927 NP AFE Coulee City Turntable Removal

Courtesy of the NPRHA.

Was The Siding At Adrian Built By The GN, Or The NP?

Courtesy of the NPRHA.

1920 Columbia Basin Orchards Warehouse Location

Courtesy of the NPRHA.

1968 GN View

Photo courtesy of Jerry Quinn.

I saw this in a slide show of his a few weeks ago and he was kind enough to share it with me.

1968

Location is between Stratford and Wilson Creek, as shot from SR 28.

Undated 1977 Freight Train Delay Report

Courtesy of the Casey Adams collection of the Cascade Rail Foundation.

Undated Hartline Mill Views

Courtesy of the NPRHA.

1910s Ephrata Depot View

Young photo.

Depot looked like this up through the big remodel around 1942.

Coulee City Engine Facility Scene

Photo courtesy of the Bonneville Power Administration.

Photographer unknown.

October 5, 1939.

Material is being stored here for use in the first power line between Grand Coulee Dam and Bonneville Dam. The angle iron shown will soon be bolted together as the towers to hold the power line.

Serving Larson Air Force Base

Courtesy of the Casey Adams collection of the Cascade Rail Foundation.

June 1, 1954

Warden Area Crew Complaints

From the Cascade Rail Foundation Casey Adams Files.

1928 NP AFE Coulee City Unloading Platform

Courtesy of the NPRHA.

GN Quincy Shoofly

USBR photo. Courtesy of the Grant County Historical Society Museum.

February 27, 1950

Yeah, I know, where is it today? Right here!

1950 Smyrna View

USBR photo. Courtesy of the Grant County Historical Society Museum.

May 5, 1950

Ephrata, Port Seek State Funds For Truck Access Route Design

From "GCJ News."

March 7, 2026

EPHRATA — Ephrata city council members on Wednesday approved an application seeking state funds to design a major arterial roadway and rail overpass that would link the north end of town at Basin Street/State Route 28 to the Ephrata Port District.

City engineer Shawn O’Brien outlined provisions of the grant application — submitted in conjunction with the port district — to the Washington State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.

The city and port are seeking $302,750 in state monies in 2027, with each contributing $23,625 in matching funds, for a total estimated cost of $350,000. The application deadline was Friday, March 6.

If approved, the feasibility study and engineering design would enhance the possibility of receiving additional state and federal monies in the future to construct the arterial/rail crossing, which has a preliminary estimated cost of $5 million, said O’Brien.

Both the roadway and rail overpass proposals are listed in the city’s 2026-2031 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.

The project’s main focus is to provide direct truck access from SR 28 to the port district, its rail spur, commercial and industrial tenants, and the Ephrata Airport. Currently, that access is limited. Trucks on the highway must enter town and turn onto East Division, or approach the port from State Route 282 along Nat Washington Way or Airport Street to the south.

The proposed connector would “provide a dedicated truck route through airport and industrial zones, not winding through residential and school zone areas, as it does now along Division Street,” Dave Bren, the city’s project engineer and grant writer, stated in the funding request.

A new north-south arterial could also ease traffic congestion at existing rail crossings at Division and Nat Washington Way, particularly for school bus traffic at certain times of the day. And, said council member Valli Millard, for residents on the northeast side of town.

“It is so congested up there,” she said.

The proposal has received letters of support from the Ephrata School District, Grant Transit Authority, and state Department of Transportation. 

Councilman Mike Warren commended city staff for pursuing the project, saying it has been a long-standing need for the community, while fellow councilman Matt Moore appreciated the collaboration with port officials.

If ultimately constructed, the new arterial would connect with State Route 28 at the intersection of Road B-NW, where the state Department of Transportation is proposing to construct a roundabout in 2028.

From that intersection, the new roadway would cross the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail tracks via an overpass — a key component that makes the project “feasible,” said O’Brien — and continue south to an eastward extension of Third Avenue N.E.

There, the arterial would split: one roadway would proceed east from Third Avenue and connect to Railroad Street at the port district; the other roadway would continue south and link up to both East Division Avenue and Enterprise Street.

Right-of-way acquisition would involve one private property owner on the east side of the railroad tracks, said O’Brien.