A group of workmen load 100 lb. bags of flour into a Southern Pacific railroad freight car at the Sperry Flour-General Mills plant on Tacoma's waterfront in February 1948. The company's facilities, on what is now Schuster Parkway, was ideally located between the railroad tracks and the "Ocean Dock". The company's products included all white flours, whole wheat, pancake and cake flours, cereals and mixed feed. Sperry's cereals were sent to Portland for packaging. The flour operations at the mill ceased in 1965, and the last of the mill buildings was demolished in the late 1980s. (Special order for special edition, Tacoma Times, George Beckingham)

Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Southern Pacific Lines (Tacoma); General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

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;

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);

Chicago-Milwaukee railroad night train crew. The front row appears to be the staff for the dining room. In the back row are stewards, conductors and engineers. The railroad company began operating passenger and freight trains out of Tacoma in 1909. TPL-995

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

A photograph taken at night on April 21, 1954, of the new Milwaukee Road passenger depot indicates the building was rectangular, with a two-layer flat roof, and surrounded by tinted plate glass windows. Waiting passengers could easily see the trains yet they were comfortably protected from the often inhospitable elements. The railroad's name, The Milwaukee Road, is illuminated on the exterior tower. The more convenient $150,000 passenger train depot on E. 11th and Milwaukee Way replaced an older model; it was made of Roman brick. (TNT 4-18-54, p. 1)

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

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;

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;

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;

How many men can fit through the doors of a new Milwaukee Road boxcar? At least eight on March 7, 1968. The Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad was exhibiting its new boxcars and new engines at the CMRR yard. Photograph ordered by Public Relations Department, Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad, Seattle.

Railroad freight cars; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

All Aboard! A new Milwaukee Road engine is ready to roll in this March 7, 1968, photograph taken at the Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad yards. The railroad company had invested in several new boxcars and engines. Photograph ordered by Public Relations Department, Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad Co., Seattle.

Railroads; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railroad coal cars being filled by conveyor in front of corrugated metal building.

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Coal--Tacoma;

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;

Truck loaded with fuel wood overturned by Municipal Belt Line train engine on 11th Street near Tacoma Harbor Lumber Company on January 6, 1943. Although the Lotan Fuel Co. truck was extensively damaged, there were no reported injuries. It is unclear whether the truck was attempting to cross the tracks at the time of the accident. (T.Times, 1-7-43, p. 6)

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

Interior of office, Great Northern. Employees help individuals with tickets and travel plans. Other employees talk on the phone or handle other office duties. There is a long, curved counter to handle inquiries. (alternate address 112-18 So. 9th)

Railroads--Tacoma--1940-1950; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma); Ticket offices--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of the remodeled Union Pacific Railroad Ticket Office. Pictured are the ticket counter, promotional materials, paintings on walls and desks for the agents. The office was housed in the Drury building. The main address for the office was 112-18 So. 9th St. Known as Transportation Row, it housed the offices of the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Union Pacific and Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroads from 1926-1975. The office had been remodeled in May of 1942.

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

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber also has a plant in Olympia, plywood is manufactured in that plant, then sent to the Tacoma retail yard. View of logging camp grounds where laborers sleeping quarters are located, mountain view in background.

Railroad tracks--Puyallup; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

A nearly demolished locomotive is seen at the Northern Pacific Railway yard.

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company started running trains from Tacoma around 1909; this railroad company was one of the last ones to establish operations to and from the Pacific Northwest. The railroad operated daily passenger and freight trains from Tacoma; the famous streamliner, Olympian Hiawatha, offered the first streamline service between Tacoma and Chicago, and reduced this trip by fifteen hours.

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

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad had a 300 acre shop and railway terminal plant; the shop area originally opened in 1906 even before railway operations had started. The Milwaukee terminals were completed in 1906 and services began in 1909. The railroad expanded their services shortly after the end of World War II and better communication with the trains and engineers was established, therefore providing higher standards of safety.

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

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;

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;

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;

Northern Pacific started a gradual change from steam to diesel power in 1938, they had their first freight diesel electric locomotive in operation and on the road in 1944 and passenger diesels have been added since 1947. Throughout the years Northern Pacific has expanded in Tacoma and in the United States. Exterior view of Northern Pacific Railway's new freight station and office building.

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railroad engineer in steam locomotive road number 2265, type 4-6-2 class Q-6. In the 1950s most steam locomotives were displaced by diesels. In the early steam days South Tacoma was the location of a major repair facility. With the advent of diesels, most repairs were moved to a facility in Auburn, Washington.

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

Members of the board of directors of the Chicago-Milwaukee Railroads enjoy a water excursion on July 13, 1950. The seated man in the middle with hat on appears to be engrossed in some delightful reading material. Next to him wearing a bright tie is the president of the Milwaukee Road, C.H. Buford. Henry Foss, whose vessel transported the directors, stands directly behind Mr. Buford. In addition, the board was present at a luncheon at the Hotel Winthrop the same day.

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buford, C.H.; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986;

On July 13, 1950, Agnes Foss confidently prepared to grasp the large steering wheel on board a vessel, probably one of the Foss family tugs. Assisting her was her husband Henry Foss, right. C.H. Buford, cap in hand, gazed upon the wheel and smiled. The Fosses were giving Mr. Buford, president of the Milwaukee Road, a ride quite different from that which passengers on his railroad would receive. Mr. Buford and other railroad heads were on a centennial inspection tour and had stopped in Tacoma. They had lunched at the Winthrop Hotel where criticism of government control of railroads and approval of Korean war action were topics discussed. (TNT 7-14-50, p. 1-article on rail officials visit)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steering wheels; Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Agnes S.; Buford, C.H.;

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. The North Coast Limited first went into service April 29, 1900. This passenger train was the pride of the Northwest Pacific. In the Pacific Northwest, the NP was the first railroad to offer sleeping and dining cars. As a passenger going from eastern Montana to western Washington, you would move across the flat lands of eastern Montana, across the Rocky Mountains, through valleys in Idaho and Washington, climb over the Cascade Mountains, and drop into the shipping port of Seattle. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

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;

Northern Pacific locomotive 5405A, for Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborne.

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

Opened in April of 1954, the new $150,000 passenger depot at the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company's tideflats location was a long, sleek, Roman brick structure. Passengers could wait in comfort on "lounge-type" aluminum furniture, a far cry from hard wooden benches, and remain dry behind wall-to-wall tinted plate glass windows until their trains arrived. The new depot replaced the old gray wood building at South 25th & A Streets. Many passengers may have been waiting for Milwaukee Road's popular Hiawatha service that ran from Tacoma to Chicago. This diesel-electric locomotive cut the time spent in traveling by several hours and passengers were able to enjoy a very scenic route. Unfortunately, after fifty years of service, the Hiawatha made its final run in May, 1961; it was the first of our country's long-haul passenger trains to quit. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 3, p. 22; TNT 4-18-54, p. 1+)

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