Western Railroad Discussion > INPR 4608 @ LaGrande, Oregon 1/14/2022

Idaho, Northern and Pacific {INPR} 4608 did the honors for the railroad on Friday, January 14, 2022

The 4608 was noted passing through the UP yard in LaGrande, Oregon. First noted passing the depot, it was also spotted behind UP snow removal equipment UP 24528 & SP MW 321

After switching in the UP yard for a couple hours, the train headed northeast out of town, through Island City, on the former UP Joseph Branch, for Elgin, Oregon

Jonathan Fischer
West Seattle, WA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/22 12:43 by JFArrFan.

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INPR 4608 was then noted passing the siding at Alicel, Oregon, before it was photographed ambling through Imbler, Oregon on its way to Elgin. (More on Imbler in a moment)

Jonathan Fischer
West Seattle, WA

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The 4608 was then spotted heading through the Grande Ronde River gorge (between Imbler and Elgin), before arriving in Elgin

On a previous visit I'd noted that the traincrew stopped for lunch at the market at Imbler (about a block from the tracks)

This, in fact, is a tasty place to stop for lunch

Jonathan Fischer
West Seattle, WA

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A couple hrs switching for HOW many cars??
Never seen coverage of this operation, thank you. Will look this summer hopefully. Any known days into town and where they tie up?

Very NICE and interesting series!

Larry

They spent most of the time in the blocking their previously arrived traffic for the UP. On Friday's they've a lighter load to the mill in Elgin

They generally operate 5 days a week, up one day to Elgin, back the next. On duty around 7AM. Fridays they may make a roundtrip, as was the case on this occasion

Jonathan Fischer
West Seattle, WA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/22 17:20 by JFArrFan.

Need to find it but there's a decent YouTube video of the line which was in fact posted on TO a few months back.

Out 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/22 15:13 by callum_out.

Link to video is:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EG-aWHF_VVQ

Power when not working is tied up at Island City, about two miles out of La Grande.

I also have a page of my High Desert Rails site devoted to the operation at:

http://trainweb.org/highdesertrails/inpr.html

Thanks for posting the photos!

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Posted from iPhone

very nice set and commentary, Thanks Bob

Jonathan that's a nice set of pictures. They tie up at night off Island Ave in Island City just behind Ed Staub & Sons Propane. The closest address is 10502 W 1st Island city Oregon. I know Google will say it's Lagrande but the 2 cities share the same zip code 97850. There is also a small used car lot in the same parking lot where the engines tie up. 
I live a little less than 2 miles from there. They sure do have a pretty background for their run from Lagrande to Elgin.
Robert in Island City

Why's it called Island City? I've not noted a nearby water body

Jonathan Fischer
West Seattle, WA

The name Island City originated from the city's location on an island between the Grande Ronde River and a nearby slough. However the slough was later diverted removing the city's island status.
 Went to google and typed in how did Island city oregon get it's name.
There ya go. 

JFArrFan Wrote:
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> Why's it called Island City? I've not noted a
> nearby water body

Thanks for chasing this train and getting all the great photos.  I haven't heard much about the
Joseph Branch in quite awhile and am pleased to know it is hopping.  I hope to get up there
this summer and chase it myself.