Connors Steel & Supply. A railroad car with a winch on one half of the car, the other half is covered with a structure similar to a caboose. This closer view gives greater detail of the winch.

Railroad cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. The Olympian Hiawatha was built by the Milwaukee Road for the Pacific Northwest. She was pulled by a diesel-electric locomotive. Brought on to do the Tacoma to Chicago run, she could make it to Chicago in 45 hours - 14 less then the previous train. All her cars were air conditioned, and she pulled several specialty cars including a dormitory-baggage car, Touralux sleeping cars, the Tip Top Grill car, and a dining car with angle seating. She was on display June 28, 1947 at the Milwaukee Road Station at 102 East 25th Street. (T.Times, 6/25/1947, p.11) TPL-9361

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. The Olympian Hiawatha was built by the Milwaukee Road for the Pacific Northwest. She was a diesel-electric locomotive that would run between Tacoma and Chicago. She would make the run between the two cities in 45 hours, 14 hours less than previously. All cars were air conditioned and she was outfitted with a public address system. (T.Times, 6/25/1947, p.11)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad was hosting a safety rally for their employees at the Odd Fellows Temple in Tacoma in January of 1949. Railroad officials from Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, Chicago, Milwaukee and Butte would be attending the rally. Company officials stressed the importance of employee safety and would spend some time discussing accident prevention methods; H. J. McMahon is the Western District Safety Engineer, his headquarters are in Tacoma.

Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad sidings--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Clouds; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1937. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific locomotive 10250, EP2 after accident, circa 1937. (filed with Argentum)

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

ca. 1937. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific locomotive 10250, EP2 after accident, circa 1937. (filed with Argentum)

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

Milwaukee Road engine E-3 left Tacoma in early June, 1949 for Chicago to take part in a Railroad Fair that was scheduled to begin on June 25. The mammoth engine, known as "the world's mightiest electric locomotive" was stationed in Tacoma and pulled passenger trains through Seattle and over the Cascades. She was 67 feet in length, weighed 521,200 pounds and had 24 drive wheels. In the 1920's the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad pioneered the modern application of clean, quiet, electricity to power heavy trains. In 1949 and the 1950's the company purchased new electric locomotives. For electrification, the Milwaukee originally intended to generate their own power, but the railroad decided to purchase commercial alternating current and convert it on their own property to direct current. (TNT, 6/2/1949, p.6; Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green) TPL-9426

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New engine on "83", Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway. The Milwaukee electrics were a legend, a very unique experience, and in the opinion of many people, the best locomotives the Milwaukee Road ever owned. The longest electrification district was 440 miles from Harlowton, Montana, to Avery, Idaho. The shorter section was 207 miles in Washington State across the Saddle and Cascade Mountains from Othello to Tacoma. The electric locomotives replaced steam in the 1920's and then were replaced by diesel powered engines in the 1940's and 1950's. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green) TPL-3730

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The exterior of the Union Pacific Railroad Company office. The company is advertising the Streamliner with sleeping car service to Chicago and Sun Valley.

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Members of the Tacoma Executives Association relax after enjoying a meal in the dining car at the Chicago, Milwaukee depot. The 52 men present were guests of the Milwaukee railroad and had their weekly luncheon on the Olympian Hiawatha prior to the train's departure for the East Coast. (TNT 11-13-52, A-10)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Executives Association (Tacoma);

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;

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;

Group picture at the Northern Pacific Railroad roundhouse. Roundhouse employees standing on or in front of train engine w/A.A. Huston, Roundhouse Foreman

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Railroad locomotives;

Northern Pacific Roundhouse employees standing on or beside train locomotive 2250 w/A.A. Huston, Roundhouse Foreman

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Railroad locomotives;

ca. 1957. Copy of customer print. A Northern Pacific Railway refrigerator car is stationary on tracks in a 1957 photograph requested by the Pacific Car & Foundry Co. All vital information regarding the boxcar is listed on its side, including weight, dimensions and capacity limits. Apparently this was a newly engaged car as of September, 1957. TPL-5838

Railroad refrigerator cars; Signs (Notices); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1957. Copy of customer print. The interior of a Northern Pacific Railway refrigerator car shows it empty of any cargo. Warning signs are posted on each door; nails are not permitted to be driven into the doors. A smaller sign indicates that thresholds must be cleared before the doors are closed. Floor of the refrigerator car appears to be made of wood. This was a new car; put into action September, 1957. Photograph requested by Pacific Car & Foundry.

Railroad refrigerator cars; Signs (Notices); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

This photograph, which dates from around 1890, was reproduced by Richards Studio in March of 1946 under the direction of Ernest G. Heinrich, the owner of Heinrich Locker & Ice Co. It is a view of a man with two boys, wearing hats, sitting by railroad tracks. Ernest Heinrich is the boy seated on the lap of Bill Plummer. Mr. Plummer was the bridge watchman for the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Bridge across the St. Croix River in Rushseba Minnesota, Chisago County. The other boy is unidentified. The trio are at the ferry landing. TPL-3566

Railroad tracks; Children & adults; Smokestacks; Heinrich, Ernest G.--Family;

A copy of an earlier photograph of two steam engines pulling a load of logs. Engine No. 7 is the front engine with a cattle catcher on her front. Steam-whistles can be seen on both locomotives. The crew stand nearby while the engineer and fireman lean from the cab. The letters B.B.&.B.C. are seen on the coal tender. This was a Bellingham Bay and British Columbia locomotive, an early railroad in Bellingham/Whatcom County. Ordered by Philip S. VanWyck who was the director of the Tacoma Vocational-Technical School in 1953. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Railroad locomotives; Steam-whistles;

A copy of an earlier photograph of steam engine no. 7 coming along the track. Clouds of smoke and steam pour from number 7 and the other locomotive behind her as they come through a scrubby landscape. TPL-8761

Railroad locomotives;

ca. 1939. Copy negative for Cheney Lumber Company of train cars loaded with lumber.

Railroad cars; Lumber

In August of 1940 the Northern Pacific Railway Shops softball team went up against the team from Johnson Paint for the Pierce County softball championship. Before a crowd of 1,100 fans at Sumner High field the NP team put up a valiant effort against the "Painters", the defending county champions. Ultimately they gave up three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and lost 6 to 4. Johnson Paint went on to play in the state championship series where they lost in the final game against Dunn Lumber, to take 2nd place. (T. Times)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Softball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Softball players--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Workers at Northern Pacific Railroad's South Tacoma shops during Wendell Willkie's visit. Mr. Willkie was the Republican candidate for President in 1940. (T. Times)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Railroad employees; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

The Northern Pacific Railway travel tour of 40 individuals posed in front of the Olympus Hotel on June 21, 1957. They may have been part of a Methodist congregation. Photograph ordered by Northern Pacific Railway.

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Tourists--Tacoma; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

The "DUPONT" is docked awaiting delivery of cargo from the adjacent boxcars in a September 19, 1957, photograph. Railroad tracks run right up to the cargo ship which would make delivery easier and more efficient. This was one of the shipping methods used by the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. to transport their explosives and other products. TPL-9247

Railroad tracks; Railroad locomotives; Railroad freight cars; Cargo ships; E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Dupont);

In the beginning, everything was business as usual on Tuesday morning, July 1, 1941. The flat cars on the Belt Line were dumping a load of logs at the Cascade Log Co. pond on E. 11th Street. The logs usually roll into the water as the cars travel on the tilted track. On this day, however, one of the cars came loose from the wheel base and attempted to follow the logs into the water. A crew soon arrived to right and repair the car. (T.Times 7/1/1941 p.1)

Railroad accidents--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cascade Log Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Logs; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma;

On October 15, 1942, a southbound Great Northern freight engine derailed and fell over on its side at 24th and Bay St. Six railroad cars piled up behind the derailed engine. Luckily the train was moving slowly and the engineer and the crew had time to leap to safety. Engineer R. Ritter and Fireman August Zueger, both of Seattle, were able to crawl out of the cab of the locomotive. (T. Times 10/16/1942. pg. 1; TNT 10/16/1942, pg. 1)

Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Railroad accidents--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Steam escaped from a Great Northern freight locomotive after the southbound train derailed at 24th and Bay St. on October 15, 1942, and fell over on its side. Six cars piled up behind the derailed engine. Over 100 feet of track were torn up in the mishap, but luckily no one was hurt. The locomotive, known as the Extra 3210, was scheduled only to pause in Tacoma for the coupling of a helper engine. The train was past the Reservation Junction, on the east city outskirts, and had reached the line leading to the drawbridge when the locomotive and tender turned over on their sides. The cause of the accident was unknown at the time the story ran in the newspaper. (TNT 10/16/1942, pg. 1; T. Times 10/16/1942, pg. 1)

Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Railroad accidents--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

While taking photographs of a railroad accident at 24th and Bay St., the Richards photographer captured this image of railroad cars and tracks on the Tideflats in October of 1942.

Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma;

On January 6, 1943 a Lotan Fuel Company truck was crossing the belt line tracks near 2500 East 11th Street on the tideflats when it was hit broadside by a Municipal Belt Line train engine. The engine was knocked off the tracks, and the truck ended up laying on its side, its load of fuel wood dumped onto the tracks. Surprisingly, no one in either the truck or the engine was injured. (T.Times, 1/7/1943 p.16)

Railroad accidents--Tacoma; Municipal Belt Line (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lotan Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

Truck loaded with fuel wood overturned by Municipal Belt Line train engine number 1627 on 11th Street on January 6, 1943. Small crowd of men gathered around accident site near Tacoma Lumber Co. and Birchfield Boiler. The collision between the train and the small Lotan Fuel Co. truck did not result in any injuries. Estimated damages were not listed at the time of the Tacoma Times brief article dated January 7, 1943. (T.Times, 1-7-43, p. 6)

Railroad accidents--Tacoma; Municipal Belt Line (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lotan Fuel Co. (Tacoma);