Steam & Excursion > Northwestern Pacific - The Railfan Route Of The 1940's!

Just last week on the 23 of October we marked the 100th anniversary of the completion of the NWP and the golden spike ceremony held at Cain Rock. Even though most of what we remember as the NWP is either gone or hopelessly out of service, the NWP still holds a special place for railfans today.

In the 1940's the NWP was host to a number of fine railfan excursions that showed the visiting enthusiasts the varied and beautiful scenery along the line from Sausalito to Eureka, California.

One such excursion was held on June 18 and 19, 1949. Power for the sold out train was NWP 4-6-0 #182. The trip went all the way to Eureka on the 18th and overnight-ed there. The next day the excursion returned with may photo stops along the way.

The first 2 photos are by Guy L. Dunscomb and show NWP #182 stopped at the San Rafel station with her train. The next show shows the busy NWP roundhouse at Eureka when the excursion reached that town. The 3rd shot is by Wil Whittaker and shows #182 and her train by the famed Scotia Bluffs on the return trip.

In the 1940's the NWP played host to several other excursions with railfans gaining a new appreciation for the beautiful NWP route in Northern California.


Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/14 03:45 by LoggerHogger.

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NWP #182 was polished up for her trip in 1949 with a sold out train of railfans traveling over the length of the NWP. She would be the chosen power for other such excursion trains during the steam days of the NWP.

Here are 2 color shots of #182 taken by Guy L. Dunscomb on the June 1949 trip. Unfortunately, #182 was not saved at the end of steam and today only her builder plate remains to remind us of the classic steam power of the NWP that was photographed by so many railfans on these trips.

Martin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/14 04:56 by LoggerHogger.

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How many times do you see both sides.

This Builders Plate has followed me around the country and now hangs on the wall in my office in Wenatchee.

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Sigh............

Great to see the other plate from this loco surviving.

Martin

Beautiful series, Many thanks for sharing. BTW, #182 was a 4-6-0.

That SP 182 is a real handsome little engine! Too bad it's gone--looks fun to run.

LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> NWP #182 was polished up for her trip in 1949 with
> a sold out train of railfans traveling over the
> length of the NWP. She would be the chosen power
> for other such excursion trains during the steam
> days of the NWP.
>
> Here are 2 color shots of #182 taken by Guy L.
> Dunscomb on the June 1949 trip. Unfortunately,
> #182 was not saved at the end of steam and today
> only her builder plate remains to remind us of the
> classic steam power of the NWP that was
> photographed by so many railfans on these trips.
>
> Martin

How utterly amazing that this particular plate now resides in Bend, Oregon...
Gee, who would of thunk it ?

KRK

Good to hear from you Ken.

Martin