Steam & Excursion > These Beasts Could Be Found Battling Deep Snow Here Each Year!

When one thinks of Southern Pacific's Cab-Forwards pounding the rails through deep snow we usually imagine these steam giants on Donner Pass in the Sierra Mountains.  However, you could find these monsters in the same environment farther to the North as well.

In the winter of 1948 Bert Ward had just started working for the SP out of Eugene, Oregon.  Bert had only recently relocated from his hometown of San Francisco.  Fortunately, Bert had continued his passion for railfanning on his new job as a conductor for the SP.

While waiting on a siding at Fields, Oregon on the Natron Cut-off above Oakridge, Oregon Bert stood waiting with his camera for the approaching train they were scheduled to meet.  Right on schedule around the curve came the distinct sound of articulated SP #4219 on the headed of Train #671.

While this is a magnificent sight for us today, once this was simply all in a day's work of steam railroading on "The Hill" as SP called this mountain line.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/17 03:42 by LoggerHogger.

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That photo does give you a sense of being there standing in the snow putting you in the action.  Bert was living the dream and thankfully preserved a piece of it to share with us.

Cheers, Jim Fitch

The Southern Pacific's winter operations through the mountains made for some of the most impressive railroading in North America.  That is a great shot of fantastic subject material, Martin!

Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY

Martin,
As usual, great shots. Thanks,

Nudge

A very NICE shot of steam's past on the SP. Thanks for sharing this photo.

Larry

Martin, I think we are at Frazier Depot (behind Us) lookig Eastward ? Tunmtr