There is some horrendously inaccurate information being circulated & even worse,
published in print media, concerning S&NCT history. For example, someone is
circulating a wildly fabricated startup of operations date of December, 1980.
Operations are well known, nicely documented to have begun on March 24, 1980.
I was there in late August of 1980, and they were most certainly operating!
There was no nine month time lag. Rail shippers could have been lost to trucks.
Time lapse between the MILW leaving, then S&NCT taking over was mere days.
Others have created a nicely fictional roster of motive power & additional
history. I cannot fathom why people do such ridiculous, destructive things.
Anyone with true interest in facts, documented history
and not wild poppycock, is urged to join:
The Seattle & North Coast Railroad Group on Facebook!
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November of 1980- Freshly delivered boxcar #1034 in a wet Whatcom Yard (Seattle), Washington:
Next to #1034, in her brand new paint is #1215:
SW1200 #55, has been busily spotting these new boxcars:
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During the first few days of 1981, #55 rests on Pier 27, their rail barge facility.
Ex-Burlington Northern F7A #684 is on the property, awaiting her first call to duty:
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SW1200 #55 idles on Pier 27, early Spring of 1981:
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It is April of 1981 and boxcar #1167 awaits in Whatcom Yard. Slightly
less than six months into service and her new paint shine is already gone:
Turning 180 degrees from taking my above boxcar photo, we see my companion of that
same day, none other than my good friend, the late Al Currier. The Currier family had
come down to visit for the weekend, so naturally Al and I had to chase a few trains!
Ex-BN F7A #684 is still not in service. They were still using leased Milwaukee Road
SD9 #502. Which that lease would be ending in a few more weeks. Unfortunately, this
is where we learn who are your friends. My views of #502 are all gone. Borrrowed by a
"friend". Who also still has some of my MILW and other slides, never to be returned...:
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In the late Summer of 1981, I spent a day wandering along the line.
SW1200 #56 was doing some work around the barge landing in Port Townsend
when she encountered a broken rail in this switch. All hands are busy with repairs:
Track equipment tied up on a spur by the old John Andrews Mill near Maynard:
The former Milwaukee Road depot at Sequim, converted to a restaurant:
SW1 #52 was doing almost all switching work in the Port Angeles area. When they were done,
lacking a place to run around a train, they would shove back to Bayside Yard. Here we see
that in action. It is later that same day and ex-Milwaukee Road caboose #991608 leads their
parade back home. Note how the repainting of #52 is still not yet completed:
After tucking their train away in Bayside Yard, #52 is doing some switching:
While #52 is busy doing work, I take a look around Bayside Yard. The
engine shed, sand tower, and all tree F units, repainting just beginning.
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During the Fall of 1982, the "Snick" ran an excursion arranged
by the Tacoma Chapter, National Railway Historical Society.
It was more than worth every penny I paid!
First a quick stop at Port Townsend. SW1200 #56 was tucked away for the day:
Then to grab the classic view of the old Brown Veneer Mill on Discovery Bay, at Maynard:
Arriving at Port Angeles, the morning had turned very dark and rainy.
However, that did not deter anyone. The train had sold out and was full.
Our train ready and waiting in the rain. Bayside Yard (Port Angeles):
F7A #102 leads our little train, arriving at Port Angeles depot.
We will board at the depot, which is right behind me:
My ticket to ride!:
Apologies for such a poor quality inside photo. It is somehow the camera
could manage in very bad indoor lighting. My trip riding companion (glasses,
checkered shirt, aisle seat) is none other than the late Jim Gertz:
More passenegers are waiting by the former Milwaukee Road Port Angeles depot,
now S&NC RR offices. This building is now Pacific Rim Hobbies:
Photo run by at Ennis Creek (Port Angeles). The ITT Rayonier Mill in background.
A view of their "Mount Olympus". 4-1 Sleeper-Buffet/Lounge-Observation car:
Later that day another photo run by was staged at the east end of Agnew:
The sun was funally out! (Distant box cars behind our train are in the siding.)
Our train has arrived at Sequim. Daylight is waning. F7A #102 will
run around the train and F7A #101 will lead us back to Port Angeles:
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Spring of 1983. SW1200 #55 has shuffled a few cars in Whatcom Yard (Seattle):
Across the street from #55 are the Pier 27 offices of The Seattle & North Coast Railroad:
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Just east of Sequim and now an office for a landscaping supply yard,
ex-Milwaukee Road caboose #991604 is still in S&NC green. (Summer, 2010):
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A genuine company issued Seattle & North Coast Railroad hat. A prized
possession and reminder of some very interesting, fun memories:
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I really miss this little operation, as well as it's predecessor, The Milwaukee Road.
Some day people from both Jefferson & Clallam Counties might accidentally awaken,
& will rue their haste for so quickly having pushed ripping out every remnant & trace.
For a group of people who enjoy pretending to be socially & environmentally conscious,
this was just a plain old fashioned dumb choice on their part. They will be clamoring
for alternate transportation & their best possibility is now long since foolishly eradicated.
Necessity bringing eventual replacement of this route, it will cost them a shocking price.
They will deserve the financial (tax) reaming brought upon themselves.
No claim is made as to those historic documents or any other items displayed here which are not originally my own.
Such other items are public domain, or used with permission.
