Dam Inspection Trip

Upper photograph by the Bureau of Reclamation; courtesy of the Grant County Historical Museum. Lower courtesy of the Hu Blonk Papers, EWU Archives, Image Number 5-36-1-B1

The two most important visitors on the train crossing Grand Coulee Dam on October 25, 1938, are Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes and the Commissioner of Reclamation John Page along with Construction Supervisor Frank Banks.  That’s Ickes below the locomotive number, and Banks to his left.  Ickes’ trip to Grand Coulee was part of a much larger trip that Ickes took with his wife Jane starting on October 16, 1938.  This trip was, in part, a chance for Ickes to inspect a number of Bureau of Reclamation projects that were underway throughout the West along with Page, who was responsible for getting the projects implemented.

Power For Dam Trails Rail Line

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

August 30, 1934

Coulee City Depot Location

Coulee City Standard Oil Spur

Must have been a fairly interesting place to spot a car, being so close to the end of track.

I'm not sure when the dealer closed, but it was in the early 1980s.

One building survives there today, along with a cell tower and a house built on the edge of the property.

See a satellite image here.

17 Boxcars Of Freight Off Tracks

From the "Spokane Chronicle."

August 5, 1972

1954 Ephrata Aerial View

1934 Roosevelt At Ephrata

August 4, 1934.

Roosevelt's special train stops in Ephrata. Of note to me is the locomotive and car at the west switch (at the top of the photo) which was likely run a block or two ahead of the official train, as a precaution.

So much has changed in Ephrata over the years. The mainline is still there, as it part of the siding and the industry track. What other changes can you see?

Coulee City Roundhouse Track Diagram

This site is still largely the same today, save for having been ripped out years ago. The earthen ramp to the coaling dock is still in place, which is largely covered in coal dust. The track to the loading dock today is partially made up from the track that went to the turntable. There is no sign of the roundhouse or turntable today.

Hill Road Booms Mansfield

From the "Wenatchee World."

September 16, 1909