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. 1920. Copy of Asahel Curtis print #51689 requested by the Washington State Historical Society on June 1, 1977. View of unidentified male and female along side of train. The couple are wearing railroad caps. The man is wearing a white shirt and striped tie under his somewhat soiled uniform.

Railroad locomotives; Clothing & dress--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10254. Copy of Asahel Curtis print #52236 requested by the Washington State Historical Society on June 1, 1977. The electric powered train pauses on the tracks circa 1920. This is one of the 60,000 Asahel Curtis images in the Washington State Historical Society collection.

Railroad locomotives; Railroads; Railroad tracks; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co.;

Specially modified railroad car at Tacoma's Burlington Northern facility photographed in May of 1972. This unit is resting on railroad tracks. Photograph ordered by Burlington Northern Railroad.

Railroad cars--Tacoma;

Several men examine closely the interior of a new Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad boxcar on March 7, 1968, at the railroad's yard. Both doors of the boxcar are opened; interior appears to be entirely metal. Photograph ordered by the Public Relations Department, Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad, Seattle.

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

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);

Two Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad employees demonstrate the smooth opening of the doors to a new Milwaukee Road boxcar on March 7, 1968. Photograph ordered by the Public Relations Department, Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad, Seattle.

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

A man in hard hat and checkered jacket is pictured gazing over the Milwaukee-Cowlitz Tree Farm on October 25, 1968. A large wooden sign states that the tree farm is "for the present" and "for the future." Old-growth stands and young trees fill the landscape. Photograph ordered by the Milwaukee Road for their annual report.

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Trees; Signs (Notices);

Tracks are being laid at the site of the old Kent Airport in mid-July of 1969. They are being constructed next to what appears to be the old runway. Photograph ordered by the Milwaukee Road, Seattle.

Railroad tracks--Kent;

Rayonier locomotive #90 is loaded with logs on a late fall day in 1963. First known as Rainier Pulp & Paper Co. in 1926, the company realized that Western hemlock, plentiful on the West Coast, was a prime source of bleached paper pulp. Its first mill was established in Shelton in 1927. A few years later, Rainier research scientists joined with Du Pont, leading producer of rayon, to perfect the world's first pulp made from hemlock designed especially for the growing rayon field. 1937 saw the incorporation of the company as "Rayonier;" the name combining both rayon and Mt. Rainier, visible from the Shelton mill. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant, New York. (www.rayonier.com)

Railroads; Logs;

Stock footage, 1964. City skyline in background, looking onto Tideflats area. Taken apparently on a dark, cloudy day in November, 1964, this is a small glimpse into Tacoma industry. Railroad tracks run parallel to this waterway. Steam from a plant rises to blend into the cloudy sky.

Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Waterways;

Approximately 900 employees and guests of Northern Pacific Railway enjoyed the company's annual awards dinner on April 25, 1962. It was held in the Fellowship Hall of the Masonic Temple. View of head tables on stage; rows of people eating. Some men have ribbons pinned to their lapels while some women are wearing corsages. The South Tacoma Shops had won the annual President's Safety Award for the fifth time since the award's inauguration. Each year one railway shop between Tacoma and St. Paul was judged to have the best safety working record. (TNT 4-26-62, B-9)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

The Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall was packed with employees of the Northern Pacific Railway, their wives, railway officials, representatives of city, chamber and the South Tacoma Business Club, and railway medical staff on April 25, 1962, as the company enjoyed the annual awards banquet. Approximately 900 people were in attendance. View of long rows of tables; dais in background where dignitaries were seated. The South Tacoma Shops had won for the fifth time the annual President's Safety Award. Photograph ordered by Northern Pacific Railway. (TNT 4-26-62, B-9)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Masonic Temple (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);

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);

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);

Approximately 1000 Northern Pacific Railroad Veterans were treated to a scrumptious banquet at the Masonic Temple on June 29, 1957, during the group's 33rd annual convention. There is a large banner welcoming the 1957 Veterans posted on pillars. Special Pullmans and coaches left St. Paul on June 25th to bring members from Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington to the two-day convention. There are approximately 3500 members of the Veterans group, consisting of employees and former employees with a minimum of 30 years of service. Dean Eastman of Seattle, Northern Pacific vice-president, was scheduled to speak at the banquet. Photograph ordered by Northern Pacific Railway. (TNT 6-19-57, C-9)

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

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);

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

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

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;

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;