(Story from Trains.com)
Visitors since 5/03/05
BNSF 5428 Crosses Nason Creek on the Scenic Sub (Stevens Pass)
The Latest
Wow, August already and I haven't posted anything new in months! That could mean only two things. (1) I'm extremely lazy, or (2) I have been so busy collecting new content for the site! Fortunately, the latter is the case. May/June included another trip to the Montana Rail Link, this time along the Missouri River between Three Forks and Townsend, Montana. The weather wasn't all that great but I did get some good pics anyway and I hope to get those posted as soon as I have the time. Also of course, I have been getting a lot of BNSF locally here in the Wenatchee area as well as a few surprises. Look for those to be posted soon as well.
Coming soon will be a new feature for me. Great Northern Tech is officially a registered business in the state of Washington and I will soon begin selling prints, posters etc in high resolution of some of the pictures that I have taken that you perhaps have seen on this web site, and some that have not been posted on this site (got to hold back some of the best to sell, right?). It does take time to square away the user license agreements etc. etc. with the respective Railroads. So, in the coming months please look for the active link to my Photos for Sale page. For now, just a sample of some of the new material to be posted and/or be For Sale. Enjoy!
KD
Rail News
Wildfires hit Washington short line
August 19, 2008
CRESTON, Wash. - Wildfires driven by strong winds charred about four miles of the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad last night. The fires have hit in the middle of eastern Washington's wheat harvest, and have cut the grain hauler off from its largest shipper.
"We're dealing with handling it as best we can," EWG President John Howell told TRAINS News Wire. "We still have a railroad to run on the eastern part, but sadly, the grain is on the western part."
EWG operates 108 miles of former Northern Pacific track stretching from Cheney to Coulee City, Wash. The state owns the track, which EWG's predecessor, Watco's Palouse & Coulee City, had tried to abandon. EWG is owned by U.S. Rail Partners.
The fires took out a bridge about 50 feet long, and Howell said ties continue to burn around the railroad's midpoint. Railroad contractor Balfour Beatty has been replacing ties on the railroad's east side with state funds, and EWG has asked the state for permission to move Balfour's forces to the burned area.
Meanwhile, Central Washington Grain Growers, which owns the railroad's largest grain-shipping elevator in Coulee City, is attempting to move its grain through other outlets. Much of its wheat harvest is being trucked to a BNSF Railway-served elevator at nearby Marlin, Wash.
"They've got their own issues to worry about," said Howell. "Our customers have got customers, too, so they have to try to fill their orders as best they can. We've just got to work on getting the railroad open." He estimates that could take two weeks, depending on how quickly the state responds.
Meanwhile, BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas said his railroad has faced no impacts from the wildfires.
(Story from Trains.com)
Washington to size up damage to short line's tracks
August 20, 2008
EWG Ties smolder following wildfires on the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad yesterday. (Eastern Washington Gateway)
EWG President John Howell said he hopes the state will divert contractor Balfour Beatty's forces, currently conducting a tie-replacement program on the east end of the state-owned line, to the burned portion. He estimated the fire has damaged 2,200 ties over the four-mile stretch, but said more could catch fire by tonight.
Meanwhile, the railroad will rent a backhoe and begin removing 600 destroyed ties beginning tomorrow to get work started on the project.
