ca. 1954. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St.Paul & Pacific Railroad Co., commonly called The Milwaukee Road, opened a new passenger depot at East 11th and Milwaukee Way, on the tideflats, in April of 1954. Made of Roman brick, the $150,000 structure was a comfortable place to wait for incoming or outgoing trains. Large plate glass windows provided a clear view of the trains while keeping passengers safe and dry. The railroad company had used a simple wooden building at 25th and A Street since just after the turn of the century. The Milwaukee Road railroad went bankrupt in the late 1970s; all its land and buildings on the tideflats were purchased by Sea-Land in the early 1980s. TPL-3729

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The South Tacoma Shops of the Northern Pacific Railroad received an impressive plaque from the company in honor of their achieving the best safety record for 1953. It was apparently the fourth time the South Tacoma Shops had won this award; previous years noted on the plaque included 1943, 1944, and 1945. Northern Pacific employees and guests enjoyed a special banquet in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple on May 27, 1954, where awards were presented. Seated in the photograph are: R.H. Spellmeyer and H.J. McLain. Standing left to right are: J.J. Schmidt, A.J. Cecchi, F.L. Steinbright, F.G. Moody, G.L. Ernstrom, and C.T.DeWitt. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p.14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Awards;

Employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad enjoy a safety awards banquet on May 27, 1954, in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple. Those seated at the head tables on the stage are presumably dignitaries. A five piece orchestra and singers provided music while 900 employees and guests dined on turkey dinners. The banquet was to honor the South Tacoma Shops for their near perfect accident record in the Northern Pacific Railroad's national safety competition. There was only one reportable accident among 800 employees in over a year's time. George L. Ernstrom, general mechanical superintendent of Northern Pacific, was chosen to give the award to R.H. Spellmeyer, shop superintendent at the South Tacoma Shops. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p. 14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Guitars; Saxophones;

Members and officers of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co.'s Board of Directors pose for a photograph alongside a locomotive at the Milwaukee Road's Depot on September 17, 1954. The new $150,000 passenger depot had opened up in April, 1954, on the tideflats parallel to the railroad's freight yards. The railroad company provided an economic boost to the region for decades; in 1954 alone, employment totaled over 1000 people. The Milwaukee Road's board had toured the line's Tacoma shops and then lunched at the Winthrop Hotel. Their visit to Washington would conclude the 4,500 mile inspection tour. Chairman Leo T. Crowley (standing third from the right) announced that the Road has ordered diesels to replace all steam locomotives. Electrically-operated divisions in Washington, Oregon and Montana would continue to operate. (TPL-1714, TNT 9-19-54, C-12)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two long strings of Armour freight cars extend as far as the eye can see on July 27, 1954. This photograph was taken in Seattle; these freight cars, on separate tracks, are possibly loaded with Armour meats ready for delivery. The cars are refrigerated so that perishables could be transported without fear of spoilage. Photograph ordered by Armour Packing Co. TPL-10069

Armour & Co. (Seattle); Railroad freight cars--Seattle;

Cub Scouts from area packs with the engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. In keeping with the Cub Scout January '55 theme of "Railroading," the Milwaukee road provided a seven car train for more than 1,500 Scouts & their leaders to tour on Saturday, the 22nd at their passenger depot at E. 11th and Milwaukee Way. The boys & leaders all came from units of the Mt. Rainier Council of the Boy Scouts of America. (TNT 1/23/1955, pg. A-2)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cub Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

The Cub Scouts' theme for January of 1955 was "Railroading." The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad provided one of their passenger trains for 1,500 Scouts and their leaders to tour at the Milwaukee passenger depot at 1102 Milwaukee Way. One of the highlights of the scout field trip was the opportunity to inspect a modern seven car passenger train and to sit in a railroad observation dome car. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from various Mt. Rainier Council packs, including Tacoma's pack 13, took part in the excursion. Besides Tacoma, boys came from Cub packs at Ft. Lewis, Tillicum, Steilacoom, Puyallup, Sumner, Enumclaw, Rosedale, Dash Point, Parkland, Fife, Fircrest, Federal Way, Midland, Buckley, and Eatonville. (TNT 1/23/1955, Pg. A-2-article)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cub Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On January 22, 1955, Cub Scouts from the Mt. Rainier Council boarded a railroad car from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad line. In keeping with the January Scout theme of "Railroading," the company provided a seven car train at their passenger depot for the scouts to tour throughout the day. More than 1,500 area Cub Scouts and their leaders took this opportunity to become better acquainted with trains. (TNT 1/23/1955, pg. A-2)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cub Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1889. Northern Pacific Headquarters at 621 Pacific Avenue, circa 1889. The railroad had chosen Tacoma as its western terminus in 1873; from that point, the city would grow furiously from a small hamlet to a metropolis of about 30,000 by 1890. Construction of Northern Pacific's stone and brick headquarters with its distinctive tower, located on the bluff overlooking their half-moon railroad yards, began in the summer of 1887 and was completed the following year. Its 53 offices and storerooms and 19 vaults were utilized by the Tacoma Land Company, Weyerhaeuser Company and Northern Pacific. Northern Pacific would sell the building to the City of Tacoma in 1922 as the railroad planned to move its offices to Seattle. Photograph courtesy of the John Ogden Collection. (Tacoma Rediviva, p. 27+) TPL-10172

Northern Pacific Headquarters Building (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10210. The snub nosed flat end of the "Box Cab" electric locomotive was a distinctive feature of the EF1 models. The EF 1s were manufactured by American Locomotive Co. (ALCO) and General Electric Manufacturing Co. (GE). The engines operated on direct current. Photograph ordered by Mr. Abel. Boland B8568

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

On May 29, 1924, many interested Tacomans viewed the old wood burning locomotive #1, also known as "William Crookes," on display at Union Station. The train originally operated on the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad in 1862. As part of a joint display by the Great Northern Railroad and the Pullman Co., the locomotive pulled an old Pullman car, used by Abraham Lincoln and other Civil War luminaries. Also on display was Great Northern's newest and most powerful locomotive, Engine #2505. (TNT 5/29/1924, pg. 3) G44.1-129; TPL-674

Railroad locomotives; Union Station (Tacoma); Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Union Pacific engine #3222 as viewed on June 13, 1924. The powerful locomotive was on the tracks at the Union Depot. TPL-66; G45.1-004

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

On May 29, 1924 engine # 2505 of the Great Northern Railroad pulled into Tacoma's Union Station. The powerful engine was used to pull the new, all steel Pullman cars of the Oriental Limited, one of the ten trains operated by Great Northern from Chicago to Tacoma. The train, accompanied by a select group of company officials, was on a special introductory cross-country tour. Its new Pullman cars were very luxurious with a full spacious dining room, baths for men and women, and sleepers with headboards, reading lights and individual ventilators. (TNT 5/29/1924, pg. 3) G44.1-131; TPL-673

Railroad locomotives; Union Station (Tacoma); Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

On March 5, 1920, cameras rolled as the electric powered "Olympian" pulled out from Tacoma and made history. This marked the formal opening of the Cascade division for electrically operated trains driven by 3000-volt current supplied by the glacier streams of the Cascades. Over 100 guests from Tacoma and Seattle (railroad officials, newsmen and politicos) were aboard a special pilot train that preceded the Olympian. The Olympian made its maiden electric powered ascent through the passages of the snow draped Cascades to its summit where the special train was sidetracked so the Olympian could continue on to Chicago. The special train would travel to Cle Elum and back to Tacoma. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul train reached speeds up to 60 mph with barely any effort and without puffs of black smoke. It descended as smoothly as it ascended, proving that cross country electrical trains were viable. G44.1-080 (TDL 3/6/1920, pg. 3; TNT 3-6-20, p. 1) TPL-2376

Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Boxcars at West Fork Logging Co. site. These boxcars, some with wooden steps, may have been used as offices or living quarters by West Fork Logging Co. personnel in March of 1924. G75.1-083

Railroad freight cars; West Fork Logging Co.;

Side view of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. locomotive #9505 showing wheels. Photograph was taken on January 23, 1925. G44.1-043

Railroad locomotives; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co.;

Railroad tracks within St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. complex, part of series taken for court evidence on July 17, 1925. Assorted buildings in the distance; boards outdoors in the open. G36.1-161

Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

On July 17, 1925, a series of photographs were taken at the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. complex for court evidence. Here three men stand on or near railroad tracks. Logs are stacked nearby. G36.1-162

Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Heisler locomotive on railroad tracks at Whitney Engineering Co. plant on October 10, 1925. Heisler was considered the fastest of the three most prevalent geared steam locomotives. It was manufactured until 1941. TPL-2126; G44.1-050 (www.gearsteamed.com/heisler/heisler.htm-article on locomotive)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whitney Engineering Co. (Tacoma);

Just after 6 p.m. on November 17, 1925, Northern Pacific passenger train #424 derailed about 2 miles west of Olympia. The train, travelling about 30-50 mph, plowed into the bank on the side of the track, burying itself in the earth before it turned over on its side, crushing veteran engineer Edward M. Putnam. Subsequent train cars were knocked off their wheels. Twenty-five people were injured, several critically, with passenger Laura Hahn dying of her injuries on November 21st. Days after the wreck, the cause of the accident was still undetermined. The track appeared to be in good condition and the engine was too badly damaged for further assessment. (TNT 11/18/1925, pg. 1-article; TNT 11-23-25, p. 9-obituary of Mrs. Hahn; TNT 11-30-25, p. 20-article) G77.1-068

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad locomotives--1920-1930; Railroad accidents--Olympia--1920-1930;

On display at the Union depot, 1717 Pacific Avenue, in early February of 1927 was the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007. It had made its way from East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Washington State, a distance of 2600 miles. This unidentified group of men, some of the hundreds in attendance, took the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the latest "Iron Horse" before it left town. #5007 weighed in at 715,000 pounds and had an overall length of 94'4". G44.1-097; G44.1-069 (TNT 2-3-27, p. 14-article)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Station (Tacoma);

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent and several Tacoma commissioners joined the hordes of Tacomans on February 2, 1927, in viewing the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007 on display at the Union depot. The latest and greatest "Iron Horse" had an overall length of 94'4" and a total weight of 715,000 pounds. It was built jointly by Baldwin Locomotive and Westinghouse Electric. A banner on the locomotive proclaimed it to be the "most powerful motor-generator electric locomotive ever built." It had traveled from East Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania to Skykomish, Washington, a distance of 2600 miles, hitched to the end of a through freight. After stops in Portland and Everett, it would be put into service. From L-R above are: Mayor Tennent (on steps), Commissioners Jesse Silver & Dyer Dyment, Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, and Llewellyn Evans, superintendent of City Light. The two men standing on the ground were not identified. (TDL 2-3-27, p. 12; TNT 2-3-27, p.14-article) G44.1-069; TPL-675; TPL-5813

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Silver, Jesse; Dyment, Dyer; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Banners--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10250. The electric bipolar Class EP2 locomotives, manufactured by Alco-GE, were put in service from Othello to Tacoma in 1920. They performed beyond all expectations, with great economy and low maintenance, surviving until they were scrapped in the 1960s. TPL-2377; G44.1-087

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Interior of a Northern Pacific Railway Co. car as viewed on December 5, 1929. The doors are partially open. The railroad car had at least two windows. G44.1-112

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad cars--1920-1930;

In August of 1927, this photograph was taken for a brochure advertising the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad locomotive class EP3, the largest and most powerful electric powered locomotive. The women leaning out of the windows wearing corsages were beauties from the Broadway Theater Review on loan to the railroad for the photograph. The automobile was a new Chrysler Imperial 80 sedan loaned by the American Automobile Association to transport the girls. The new Olympian was the most modern and luxurious transcontinental transportation around. It ran on roller bearings, eliminating lurching jerks on stopping and starting. The Milwaukee Road electrified transcontinental railroad ran from Tacoma & Seattle to Chicago, over 660 miles and across four mountain ranges. TPL-1359; G44.1-092 (TDL 8/7/1927, pg. G-5 alternate picture) (photocopy made for American Automobile on 10-8-27)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Chrysler automobile; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Members of the Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association are aboard a small Great Northern locomotive which is pulling three boxcars presumably packed with eggs for the 1930 Western Washington Fair. G74.1-034

Railroad locomotives; Railroad freight cars; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma);

View across railroad tracks of the Northern Pacific Railway locomotive #4007 as seen on January 4, 1932. #4007 is pulling a long line of cars. Four unidentified men, including the driver, are present. TPL-2383; G44.1-104

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10254. On an official test trip in March of 1920, a brand new Bi-polar engine pauses for some publicity shots. The class EP2 engine was manufactured by Alco-GE. The bi-polars were unique in design because the bi-polar fields for each motor were carried on the truck frame. The huge 265 ton, 3,240 hp bi-polars were designed specifically for passenger service in the Cascades and were an immediate success when put into service in 1920. Their top speed was rated at 70 mph and they could pull 1, 120 tons (14 cars) up a 2% grade at 25 mph. The electric locomotives were also unique in appearance, riding low on 44" drivers, and in sound, their trademark a distinctive high pitched shrill from their air whistles. (Charles and Dorothy Wood "Milwaukee Road West") G44.1-079, TPL-2379

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Milwaukee sleeper #5741 (Mt. Washington), interior showing car and compartment #12, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, L.E. Newman. Sleeping cars had been used on railways as early as 1827 and there were many names for them: day and sleeping cars, boudoir cars, and slumbercoaches to name a few. Usually they ran in the second half of the train. Sleeping cars were considered traveling first class. The Milwaukee Road had two famous passenger trains, the Olympian and the Columbian. (The American Railroad Passenger Car, John H. White, Jr.)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad sleeping cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Seating furniture--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Milwaukee sleeper #5741 (Mt. Washington), interior showing car and compartment #12, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, L.E. Newman. Railroads had many kinds of special cars to make long-distance traveling more enjoyable: coaches, dining cars, lounge cars, sleeping cars, observation cars and business cars. A trip between Tacoma and Chicago took 58 hours and 45 minutes, crossed 26 mountain ranges and provided over 1,400 miles of river valleys for the traveler to see. (The Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad sleeping cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Seating furniture--Tacoma--1940-1950;