Western Railroad Discussion > The Rare Mileage Journey of 3 Derelict Locomotives

As you may have read in a prior post of mine, Progress Rail Tacoma closed its doors on 3/31/21.   The final hurrah was to ship out 5 locomotives.  The most important of those was Progress Rail Tacoma’s last product, a rebuilt MP15AC for Tacoma Rail.  The other 4 locomotives had other destinations.  Three were sent to Rainier Rail, in Tenino WA, at a location called Western Junction, where the original Chehalis Western and Milwaukee Road met.   These days Western Junction serves as the headquarters of Rainier Rail, a short line that operates the former Milwaukee Road mainline from Tacoma Rail, the portion from the Nisqually River (between Mckenna and Yelm), to Chehalis.   The three locomotives were PRLX 1121, an SW1500 that Progress Rail leased out on occasion; UPY 1147, former SP 2568, also an SW1500 that had been at Progress Rail for several years; and PRLX 100020, some version of an SD40.  

The remaining locomotive, PRL 217 (Pacific Rail Services) and SW1200 (AFIK) has a different journey ahead of it, being delivered to BNSF at Tacoma for parts unknown, at least to me. 

On April 4th, Tacoma Rail hauled the 3 locomotives to Frederickson along with its regular train.  

Tuesday April 6th, the second half (return trip) of the Hill job was scheduled to move the trio and a single soy bean hopper, to Mckenna, the end of the line for Tacoma Rail, and the furthest point from the Muni yard a Tacoma Rail train goes. The plan was to set out the trio at a derail that serves as the demarcation line between Tacoma Rail and Rainier Rail.  On the other side of the derail sat  CWW 1203, most recently a Coos Bay Railroad locomotive.  The plan was foiled, along with my plan to photograph this unique little train crossing the Nisqually River, by the lack of a key for the derail.  While someone drove out from the Tacoma Rail Muni yard with a key, which took much less time than I expected, the Tacoma Rail crew went about switching the empties for the load and setting out the trio of locomotives, before heading back to Frederickson.  After flying out to the where I last saw the CWW 1203 and finding empty track, I set out to find the train.  It wasn't long before I caught up with it south of Yelm and it wasn’t too hard to catch it at various locations along the line to Western Junction.   

So enjoy the photos of this now rare mileage journey.  

1) The Hill job switches a number of industries in the Frederickson area.  This time around the job that would normally just take the train back to Tacoma, had some work to do before heading to Mckenna.  Here they’re switching cars on what serves as a small 3 track yard. 

2) The 7002 is the head end of the train for the time being.

3) This is a James Hardie Facility

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 17:23 by DelMonteX.

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4) This is another James Hardie Facility – Cement Fiber board siding.

5) The crew is at lunch while a transload operation is underway on the adjacent tracks. 

6) After lunch the power is coupled up to the train.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 01:22 by DelMonteX.

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7) And we're off to Mckenna at a spritely 10 mph, about 15 miles away.  

8) Rounding a curve in Spanaway, about a half mile from crossing over SR 7 . 

9) This is a long tangent through Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), complete with undulating track. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 01:21 by DelMonteX.

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10) Arriving in Roy, with that long tangent clearly visible.

11) I always love a bridge shot, even if it is a tiny one like this. 

12) Downtown Roy (don’t blink…) is off to the left.   Roy used to have service from BNSF, but no longer. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 01:22 by DelMonteX.

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13) Crossing SR 507 and into McKenna.

14) Need a barrel – go see Jim at Barrels and More.  Mt Rainier is pretty impressive too!

15) Here’s the CWW 1203 with the Nisqually River bridge in the background and if you look closely you can see the derail a couple car lengths in front of the locomotive

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 01:23 by DelMonteX.

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16) The hill job doing its switching work. 

17) At the town of Rainier, just a little bit of overgrowth.

18) Still Rainier where some Milwaukee Road heritage lingers in the form of the switch stand.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 01:23 by DelMonteX.

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19) A couple miles railroad south of Rainier.

20) Closing in on Western Junction – Mt Rainier is everywhere. 

21) This is at the crossing of Waldrick Rd just outside Western Junction.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/21 01:24 by DelMonteX.

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22) Finally , Western Junction and another resting place for the derelict trio. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

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Great stuff as usual from you Steve.

Bismarck Bill

Love your work Steve,your drone work brings a whole new dynamic to Trainorders.
Regards,DK

There is a Hardie plant near me in Plant City,Fl.
They make Hardieboard.I belive the company
started in Plant City.

Uncle Joe
Seffner,Fl.

Excellent series!

Wonderful series. I can look at this stuff all day.

Very cool series!!

Larry

Impressive, content, the angles and even the weather!

Out 

Great series!
GK

Very nice..!!  Thanks for posting.

Nice coverage and update. Haven't been in that area in a long time.

Didn't know about Ranier Rail, wonder if the locomotives sound like the beer commercial as they go through transition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKFmc0oZXFI

Very impressive photos. Looking at photo #13, it looks like the covered hopper was missing. But in the next photo I can see it. It must have blended in with the road at the crossing.
John