Episode 5, North Coast Limited thru Idaho and Washington
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
- See the beautiful northwest as we trace the path of a 1960's transcontinental train trip. Imagining a ride on the Northern Pacific Railway's North Coast Limited superliner, we cross northern Idaho's panhandle, then climb the Cascade mountains to Stampede Pass and thru Stampede Tunnel, finally arriving in Seattle. See Episodes 2 thru 4 for the trip from New York's Grand Central Station thru the Great Plains and Montana.
Thanks for the show. The town, now ghost town, on the west side of the tunnel was called Lester. My aunt, after graduating high school being 17, 1943/44 was hired by the NP to train as a telegraph operator. Her first job was in the town of Lester working third trick. She would have to walk out on the ice in the middle of the night to pass orders to the crew and throw a Mail bag on as they threw one off as the train passed by. I believe she worked at Kanaskat and Easton also. I believe I saw her picture on the screen in you intro video. She died a few years ago at 94. She was a real neat lady with lots of rail stories.
The NP first built a temporary switchback route over Stampede Pass to reach Tacoma. A few years later, Stampede Tunnel was bored from both ends using the switchback line for access. It took longer than one winter to bore these tunnels; the 1864 Pacific Railroad Act land grant requirement was satisfied earlier via the switchback route into Commencement Bay/Tacoma.
And yes, there is a road over Stampede Pass. I've driven it many times. It just ends at the Tacoma Watershed border at Lester, so you can't continue into Tacoma.
In 1952 or 53, when I was three or four, we took the North Coast limited from Seattle to Spokane. Due to my early age my memory of it is a bit vague, but what impressed my little gray cells, the dinning car with white tablecloth and silverware. A bit of trivia, the Smith Tower is the tower to the left of King Street Station. At the time it was built, it was the tallest building west of Chicago.
You bring back my memory of the rather heavy silver service and white cotton tablecloths. I believe NCL diners were also provided silver finger bowls...small bowls filled with water for cleaning your fingers. That was memorable as it was the first time I'd ever seen such a thing. Such high class! Perhaps I'm a bit too low-brow but I have seen very few finger bowls since.
Watched the entire serie and the trip came to its destination and it has been great to follow the trip all the way through. You put a great effort on all of them and the results of it is stunning! Thanks for sharing! Cheers from Sweden!
Thanks, Ollie! I've just completed three episodes and uploaded one of them just now (on Warren McGee). The next one will be on a deadly car/train accident involving the North Coast Limited passenger train in 1961. I was able to interview the train engineer, years later.
Thank you i enjoyed all five.
Hey there's Auburn,Wa. Ha, there's A street. I grew up right next to that railyard. There
In the steam era? That is one of the most storied locations along the entire NP line. I am sure it was something to see. Do you have any favorite stories about the Auburn yard? You really witnessed some great history. We'll never see anything again quite like it.
This is a great video! Just to let you know the mainstreeter nor the ncl served Tacoma. Also, you missed out on some history of Yakima and Pasco. NP had a massive iceing platform I’m Yakima for the apples they hauled in their reefers across country.
And the Yakima canyon between Yakima and Ellensburg.