Western Railroad Discussion > Simpson's Golden Days?

I get out to Shelton WA once or twice a month, and sometimes I actually have a few minutes to check out Simpson's railroad.

Last week I spent an hour or so watching the railroad work Mill 3 in town.

As you may know, it's been several months since trains ran out to Mill 5 (The Matlock dry sort) and of course Simpson has put it self up for sale.

Talked with a couple of Simpson employees. They seem convinced it's unlikely that the line to Mill 5 will ever be used again, and likely that the Railroad may not survive a new owner.

Here's some shots of what was a nice time between rain squalls.

1) If you like diamonds this is the spot to be. Four of 'em in 500'. These two accommodate the line to Mill 5, the closer line belongs to PSAP RR.

2) #900 is working log cars and has just used a diamond crossing two Simpson tracks.

3) This one is Simpson crossing the PSAP,

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

---

---

---

4) This may be the last track work (unless something breaks).

5) A close up of #900 with a little fall color in the background.

6) One of the log picker's clearing an entire log car in one bite!

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

---

---

---

7) #900 is finished with this cut of log cars.

8) A Simpson Railroad Traffic jam!

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

---

---

Very nice images!

PQM

Thanks for posting. It was a great place when you could get a cab ride with Bill Chaplin or Pete just by signing a release in the dispatch shack.

Bob Ritchie
Chase, BC

So what are they doing with the logs now, dumping them on the ground near Mill 3 and then trucking them to to the Dry Sort?

L.F.

Lots of nice images here. Thanks for showing this interesting operation.
Brian Stevens

Interesting.

loleta Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So what are they doing with the logs now, dumping
> them on the ground near Mill 3 and then trucking
> them to to the Dry Sort?
>
> L.F.

I don't know all the details, but logs and lumber will move by truck between the two mills. The logs in my shot were pulled from the water, loaded on the log cars and then unloaded at the mill.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

Here's a few more shots.

1) My favorite, clearly a composite image, showing off the armstrong turntable.

2) On my one and only ride along. Felt guilty I couldn't help turn the loco.

3) Daryl, one of my hosts out at Mill 5.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

---

---

---

DelMonteX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> 1) If you like diamonds this is the spot to be.
> Four of 'em in 500'.

Nothing personal, but guess u've never been to chicago. There used to be 16 diamonds within about 300' at 75th st. crossing.(forest hill) Maybe 10 or 12 now. 10 or 12 at Dolton Jct, too. and I don;t know how many at Brighton park. The land of a million railroads and very few flying jcts.

GOOD stuff...!!! Thanks for sharing.

Same for Griffith, Indiana years ago on Broad Street. Double track EJ&E crossed double tracks of GTW and Erie ( plus C&O ) as well as a single track Michigan Central ( NYC ) on the north side of the 'J' . Always a headlight or two in one or two of six directions.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DelMonteX Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 1) If you like diamonds this is the spot to be.
>
> > Four of 'em in 500'.
>
> Nothing personal, but guess u've never been to
> chicago. There used to be 16 diamonds within
> about 300' at 75th st. crossing.(forest hill)

18 of 'em. You forgot the connecting track between BRC and the Panhandle just north of the tower.

TAW

Very interesting pictures of trains and men at work. It doesn't look like they spend much on maintenance. The half a dozen new ties aren't much compared to the need they have.

Bruce