Western Railroad Discussion > My last glimpse of Washington Eastern SD40-2s?

With the news of new power for the railroad, I thought I would get out and document what might be the last trip for any of them out of Coulee City. Photos taken today, 4/7/21.

1. Rounding the curve before Cement.

2. Arriving at Cement.

3. A nice going away shot over some channeled scabland as the train approaches Hartline.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/21 18:13 by GNSDP45.

---

---

---

Wow! Looking at shot 3 that is sure some wide open desolate countryside! I think this may be the dry end of Washington State? Thanks for what may be their obit.
How did a grainloader site ever get the name "Cement"? That is so weird!
Go

Gonut1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow! Looking at shot 3 that is sure some wide open
> desolate countryside! I think this may be the dry
> end of Washington State? Thanks for what may be
> their obit.
> How did a grainloader site ever get the name
> "Cement"? That is so weird!
> Go

Cement was a unloading site for Cement and other stuff for the Grand Coolie Dam. As for the desolate nature of the area. Pretty much everything east of the Cascade divide is a desert environment. Some areas such as the upper Basin definitely look more desolate then others though.

Trading SD40's and GP's for C40-8W's is not a move up. And Ex-CSX units too which you can expect to be trashed and stinky. I do not envy the EWG guys.

I would imagine there will be one more round trip with the SD40-2's. But by next week the CW40-8's might be ready to go.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Since I miss every other trip, it would seem, this could be my last viewing.

Dan

Really like that first shot!

Gonut1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow! Looking at shot 3 that is sure some wide open
> desolate countryside! I think this may be the dry
> end of Washington State? Thanks for what may be
> their obit.
> How did a grainloader site ever get the name
> "Cement"? That is so weird!
> Go

This is in fact the arid eastern part of Washington State. But extensive irrigation makes it prime wheat-growing territory. Towns are small, few, and far between.

Art House

Man...what a shame! I agree...swapping out SD-40-2’s for some dash 8’s is not a good move.

Any idea why this is happening?

Great photos!

Posted from iPhone

Texican65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Man...what a shame! I agree...swapping out
> SD-40-2’s for some dash 8’s is not a good
> move.
>
> Any idea why this is happening?
>
> Great photos!
>
> Posted from iPhone

Better leasing terms.

Posted from Android

Proud Foamer
OAKLEY, CA

Texican65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Man...what a shame! I agree...swapping out
> SD-40-2’s for some dash 8’s is not a good
> move.
>
> Any idea why this is happening?

The SD40-2's haven't been maintained and are in poor shape. But the CW40-8's were fully rebuilt by CSXT around 2016 and then stored about a year later due to PSR. So they should be in great shape.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

aehouse Wrote:
> This is in fact the arid eastern part of
> Washington State. But extensive irrigation makes
> it prime wheat-growing territory. Towns are small,
> few, and far between.
>
> Art House

Actually all the wheat is non-irrigated dryland farming. They grow on a 2-years cycle as it takes 2 years of rainfall to grow a good harvest on a field. So they alternate fields every year. Where there is irrigation, they grow more lucrative crops like potatoes, onions, peas, soybeans, ect.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR