Steam & Excursion > A Short-lived & Little Known Line - Boise & Western RR!

Here is a rare operating photo of a short lived Western shortline that stopped running in 1936, just as Railfans were starting to pursue such remote operations. This photo was taken in Boise, Idaho showing the last months of the Boise & Western Railroad Company.

Founded in 1929 the 25 mile long railroad was aptly named for it ran 2 separate branches West out of Boise. On line ran 16 miles to Star, Idaho and the other branch went 9 miles to Oneiler, Idaho (near Meridian) The line is interesting as it used the abandoned track of the Boise Valley Traction Co that have gone out of business in 1928.

The only locomotive ever used during the 7 years this shortline ran was this 1907 Baldwin built 2-6-2. The engine had been purchased new from Baldwin by the Long-Bell Lumber Co. as their #96. She was used on the Southern operations of Long-Bell during her early years and then was shipped out West to help build the large Long-Bell Lumber railroad out of Longview, Washington.

Why she was given the #2 designation a B&W is a mystery as we know of no #1 or other engine ever to run on this little shortline. She was retired in 1936 when the railroad shut down and was stored in a Boise, ID junk yard for a number of years before finally being scraped. There are far more photos of her in derelict condition in the junk yard than shots like this of her in operation on this remote little line.



Martin



Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/13 04:18 by LoggerHogger.

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Thanks for posting this. The caption makes this image come alive.
Bob

What a "cute" little engine!

Sopunds like it was a shortline with a maximum 5mph speed limit. Wish I could have seen it.

Great stuff Martin! I'll bet this outfit was a "Boomer's Paradise"! Many a "Night Yardmaster at Pocatello" was on their payroll!

Something sounds real fishy about this operation. Was this a true railroad or simply a fraud? Five of the railroad's officers were located in Portland, Oregon. Only officer in Boise was "General Attorney" Oliver Haga. Both stations at Star, Idaho and Onweiler Junction, Idaho, aren't even listed in the Official Guide of Railways. What was their purpose to operate from 1929 (start of the depression) to 1936). Is there any record of them carrying any freight whatsoever?

Brian (SierraRail) should know that many railroads had their head offices in towns far away from their tracks. Also the Official Guide does not always have all stations that are in service at any one time.

As proof that Dan's doubts are not we founded is this fine 1935 photo taken by Hank Griffiths on the Boise & Western Eagle Branch as #2 and her freight head Westward.

I am sure the wives who had clean laundry trackside along this line had no doubt that this was a real railroad.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/13 15:09 by LoggerHogger.

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Well, there you go, I stand corrected. Thanks for the excellent photo.

Nice to see some Henry Griffiths photos turning up. There were rumors his son was working on a book but haven't heard anything in recent years.

grahamline Wrote:
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> Nice to see some Henry Griffiths photos turning
> up. There were rumors his son was working on a
> book but haven't heard anything in recent years.


I would plunk down a lot of money for a good book of his photos.

Thanks to Martin for posting this about #96.

She was one of 15 similar engines in Baldwin Class 10-24 1/2-D or 10-26 1/4-D that were built for Long Bell operations in Louisian and Texas.

The first Picture is sister engine Louisiana and Pacific #98 moving a skidder about 1915 in Louisiana


The second, is a picture of slighly larger sister, Calcasieu Long Leaf Lumber Co #69, taken at the Rapides Gravel Co, Forest Hill, LA in 1968.

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