Difference of Decades Wilson Creek

Depot photo courtesy the GN-NP Archives website.

The Wilson Creek depot, back in the early Burlington Northern day, is seen much like it was when it was still a Great Northern depot. The depot was torn down in 1975.

Photo today taken in May 2010 shows where the depot was, plus a very old grain warehouse behind it, partially seen in the older photograph.

The derailment the BNSF had at Wilson Creek in March of 2010 had cars piled up against the wooden pole easily seen in the today picture, which snapped the top of the pole off. If the depot had been standing, it would have been destroyed in the wreck.

The pile of railroad ties seen in the today photo are from a recent tie replacement program, and is not directly related to the derailment.

NP Doodlebug on the CW

From the "Spokane Chronicle."
January 29, 1954

Spokane city drivers who think January snows are giving them a hard time are sissies compared with the Northern Pacific railroad's "bug" which runs between Spokane and Coulee City. The little train is shown as it arrived in Spokane after Wednesday's run through snow deeper than fence tops. Conductor Sam Miller, with 44 years' service, is breathing a sigh of relief as he picks up his bags and starts for home. Engineer Harry Perkins is in the cab making  a last-minute check before he too relaxes for the night.

Pioneer of West Called By Death

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

December 24, 1936

Daniel Devine, age 94, resident of the Down River section more than 40 years, and sometimes known as the "hermit," died Wednesday at a local hospital of the infirmities of old age.

Born January 10, 1842, in Kansas City, he started roving the west at an early age, but not before he had been captured and pressed into the Condeferate army for six months in Arkansas. Following the war he drove wagon trains on the plains and was working with the Union Pacific tracklaying crew when the golden spoke was driven at Promontory Point, Utah, and later was foreman of a hard rock crew when the Canadian Pacific drove tunnels through the Rockies and the Selkirks.

He came to Spokane in the late '80s and foreman on a construction crew when the Seattle and Lake Shore railroad was pushed from Spokane to a point near Coulee City before being abandoned.

During the war he was watchman for several Great Northern bridges near the city and has made his livelihood up to several years ago by salvaging junk from the gravel bars along the Spokane river.

Always a student of current events, he had a keen insight to pioneer history of the northwest and was personally acquainted with the late William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody when that plainsman was furnishing buffalo beef to the construction crews on the Central Pacific railroad. He had but few close friends.

The body is at Hazen & Jaeger's awaiting funeral arrangements.

Railroad in Race to Coulee Project

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

August 3, 1933

Construction of a branch line into the site of the Grand Coulee dam is taking on the aspects of a "hoss race," with the Great Northern appearing as the dark steed to trouble the Northern Pacific, current favorite.

The Great Northern has surveyed a line from Mansfield to the dam site at Seaton's ferry, and could start construction almost overnight. From authoritative but confidential sources comes word that very thing may happen soon.

The Northern Pacific, however, has been asked to build into the dam site by Senator Dill, and is now making studies of a line from either Coulee City or Almira. The Northern Pacific is seeking a commitment of minimum truck competition as a condition to building the line, which would cost about $600,000.

Senator Dill is not putting all his bets on Northern Pacific, however, and in his address to the huge crowd that greeted his return here last night confirmed the report that the Great Northern was ready to consider building into Seaton's ferry from Mansfield.

W.P. Kenney, president of the Great Northern, declined to commit himself here this morning just before his departure for the coast, but did say the survey from Mansfield had been made some time ago.

The Great Northern naturally will want to know about the prospective tonnage and about the danger of heavy truck competition, but with equally natural motives will not want to pass up the chance at the tonnage to come from construction of the dam.

The line from Mansfield would cost more than an NP route from either Almira or Coulee City and would be a little longer. Furthermore, the NP has the better grade into the dam site.

Big Bend Railroad History--The Live Show

Join me June 10, 2010 at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center for a live presentation of railroading in the Big Bend area of Washington State. Starts at 7 pm. Here is your chance to see pictures and ask questions about our fine area and see picture.

This presentation is part of the Journey Stories exhibition in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution and Humanities Washington, with this Moses Lake showing the first in Washington State.

Repair Washout On Coulee Line

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

March 12, 1936

A section of the government railroad between Odair and Coulee dam was washed out Wednesday by flood waters pouring over the coulee walls. Railroad and highway crews have been at work day and night repairing damage.

Ryan Challenges Tax Commission

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

October 21, 1935

Suit to enjoin the state tax commission from collecting the business and occupation tax on his contract to build a railroad from Odair, on the Northern Pacific near Coulee City to the Grand Coulee dam, was filed in superior court in Olympia today by David H. Ryan.

He charges the state has no right to collect a tax on a contract let by the federal government. No hearing date was set.

The suit is the second of its kind to have been brought in superior court here, the other being an action filed by the Mason-Walsh-Atkinson-Kerr company to prevent the state from collecting the tax on the company's $29,000,000 contract to build the Coulee Dam.

High Waters Are Fought by Area Railroad Crews

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

February 28, 1957

Great Northern bridge crews were reported winning their battle with rampaging Crab creek in the Wilson Creek area today, and westbound mainline freight moved out of Hillyard this morning for the first time in two days.

About 25 feet of the Crab creek railroad bridge approaches were washed out before rock revetments could be built up to protect the tracks. Cascade division officials said the mainline would be restored to use today.

Passengers, baggage and express were being transported from Wilson Creek to Spokane and Odessa by bus and trucks yesterday.

Other railroad also are having high water problems in the area, dispatchers and division superintendents reported.

The Northern Pacific is plagued with a number of washouts on its Washington Central branch between Cheney and Coulee city.

Crews today were patching the right of way with gravel and also have been replacing piling on some small bridges. George L. Slorah, division superintendent, was making an inspection tour today. He said the main line was not threatened.

Big Bend Towns Seek Mail Route

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

April 23, 1940

Delegations from Almira, Creston, Coulee City, Davenport, Hartline, and Govan met with the Wilbur Commercial club Monday evening to discuss possible mail service, should the Northern Pacific discontinue service on the Central Washington branch from Spokane to Coulee City.

Railroad officials have intimated an intention to discontinue passenger and mail service and operate freight trains only on the line.

A committee consisting of one representative from each town on the line will be appointed to further investigate the problem. Deputy Sheriff Frank C. Rambo and Jim Downie attended the meeting from Davenport.