Another weekend and another mode of transportation. This time we traveled to the fringes of Mt. Rainier National Park and rode the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railway from Mineral Washington. Renee, Neil and Georgia were along to celebrate Neil’s surprise birthday present from Renee. He got to ride in the engine.
Let me describe the way it happened. The departure time was to be 2:30 so we arrived at 1:00 p.m. The morning train ride was just de-training. The steam locomotive, was a 2-8-2-T saddle tank logging engine built in 1929. The crew backed the four car train down into one of the yard leads and then cut off and moved the engine over by the shops for fuel and water. After about an hour the crew started up an EMD-NW-2 diesel engine and moved the cars over onto the front end of the steam locomotive. This way the engine would be pulling the four car train but running in reverse. The train was spotted at the loading platform and we all boarded. Neil climbed into the engine cab with the engineer and fireman.
We slowly ran through the yard and out onto the Milwaukee main line and began our trip south out of Mineral. Neil did a mighty fine job of straw-bossing the hoghead, James, and our run was delightful. We ran as far as the Tilton River and crossed the 80 foot high trestle that crosses the river. We then retraced our route, returning to Mineral. I am including a short video of the train just after we started up the 2.3 percent grade and headed onto the trestle.
Click here to see the video clip.
Of course with my own history on the Northern Pacific Railway, I had to find out all the crews credentials. The conductor had been a clerk and telegraph operator on the Milwaukee and the engineer retired recently from running Amtrack trains. James is also one of the engineers who run the big SP&S 700 engine when it goes out for excursions. Here is a link to the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad web site , and also a link to SP&S 700
So where do you think we should go next; diving? Â…flying? Â…spelunking? … bungie jumping?
Love to all from Gary, Judy, Neil, Renee and Georgia from Salkum, Washington near Mt Rainier.
