CBRW GP38s Arrive At Western Rail

Guest post by Blaize Merryman.

December 14 and 15, 2025.

2 Ex CBRW Locomotives got delivered to the Western Rail shops at Airway Heights, Washington. 

Specifically, engines #2087, EMD GP38, & #2184, EMD GP38. 

These engines recently got replaced by Ex Spokane, Spangle & Palouse #3903 and #3904, which are both GP39-3s and are now operating on the Central Washington Railway. 

BNSF's Lind Turn dropped the engines off at Cheney, Washington for the Washington Eastern Railway to take to the Western Rail Facility in Airway Heights, which involved some switching to get the locomotives inside the facility, pulling out an additional 3 locomotives to be able to shove the 2 "new" engines into the facility. 

Speaking of, the 538 locomotive has an interesting new look to it!

 

Great Northern Locals West Of Hillyard

Story by John Langlot.

This was a pre publication proof before his book with Mac Mcculloch came out.

 

BN 1975 Station Revenues C-H

Courtesy of Aaron Schwarz and the PNRA.

BN 1971 Consolidated Annual Station Earnings

Courtesy of Aaron Schwarz and the PNRA.

Spokane International Airport Completes Second Phase Of Rail, Truck Facility Geared Toward Attracting Manufacturers

From the "Spokesman Review."

November 3, 2022

The Dirt: Plans Move Forward For Transload Facility On The West Plains

From the "Spokesman Review."

June 12, 2020

Spokane International Airport Receives Federal Grant To Build Rail, Freight Project

From the "Spokesman Review." 

November 6, 2019

Washington Eastern Railroad conductor Scott Rohrig switches tracks on the Geiger Spur along West McFarlane Road on Nov. 16, 2018. The West Plains PDA is laying down framework to attract large aerospace and manufacturing companies to the area. Spokane International Airport received a $2 million grant to a build a mile of rail from the Geiger Spur to the airport, which makes plans for a proposed transload facility closer to reality. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

West Plains Rail Upgrade Gaining Speed

From the "Spokesman Review."

March 24, 2014

Going Off The Rails

From the "Spokesman Review."

September 9, 2011.

 

Courtesy of the PNRA and Aaron Schwarz.

Introducing The 329

Photo by Bruce Butler.

September 18, 2016

Saturday the 17th was a dreary, rainy day. 329 made its first run on the EWG. Seen here pulling storage cars off of the Geiger spur so some steel can be delivered to the customers.

2015 Passenger Cars To INRM

Guest post by Bruce Butler.

Leaving Cheney, at 904 - Betts road crossing. Larry A Parker picture.

At the rodeo grounds just north of Cheney. Picture taken by Charlie Mutschler.

North of Jensen Rd. Picture taken by Charlie Mutschler.

Approaching Meadow Lake Rd. That's me running the 8319. Picture taken by Charlie Mutschler.

Setting out the car of rail at Elizabeth siding on the Geiger spur. My picture.

We stopped where the railroad passes under the BNSF Columbia River subdivision near mile post 14 on the CW. Picture by Larry A Parker.

We stopped where the railroad passes under the BNSF Columbia River subdivision near mile post 14 on the CW. My picture.

We stopped where the railroad passes under the BNSF Columbia River subdivision near mile post 14 on the CW. My picture.

That's me on the left and Conductor Jerry Miller posing on the front of the 8319.

Another (better) picture of me and Jerry on 8319. Picture by Larry A Parker.

Rounding the curve at Deep Creek, just beyond MP 16. Picture by Larry A Parker.

Approaching Hite. Picture by Larry A Parker.

Picking up some empty grain cars at Hite. My picture.

Notice the markers on the baggage car.

Ready to leave Hite; as soon as I get back in the cab of the 8319.

Leaving Hite with our slightly longer train. Picture by Larry A Parker.

Reardan. We cut the empty grain cars off east of the crossing and are going to run around the two passenger cars so that they can be shoved into the INRM museum at West Reardan. This was necessary because of the track layout and connection with the CW main at West Reardan. Picture by Larry A Parker.

The train has been put back together and Jerry is riding in the vestibule of the coach, protecting the shove. Picture by Larry A Parker.

We have arrived at West Reardan. The grain cars have been cut off and are standing on the mainline. We have backed down into the museum's stub track and are preparing to shove the coach and baggage car into the museum.

Entering the museum. 8319 is occupying the old Sunset highway. Picture by Larry A Parker.

Telephoto view looking into the museum. Note construction of the building underway. Picture by Larry A Parker.

View looking down the trackage in the museum. Picture by Larry A Parker.

Passenger cars are spotted and we are preparing to cut the 8319 off.

Here is my timeslip for that day. We took the empty grain cars to Davenport and then returned 8319 light power to Cheney.