ca. 1920. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10252. Copy of Asahel Curtis print #51601 requested by the Washington State Historical Society on April 1, 1977. The electric powered train may have been departing/arriving at the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Tacoma location. The Washington State Historical Society has 60,000 Curtis images in its collection.

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

ca. 1920. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10253. This is an Asahel Curtis print, #46216, which was requested copied by the Washington State Historical Society on April 1, 1977. Three men are standing next to the electric powered engine, spaced far apart, with the man in the foreground seemingly prepared to give the "go ahead" signal. Photographer Curtis documented industry in Washington State as well as historic events and geographic features. He was based in Seattle and worked there until his death in 1941. 60,000 of his images are held in trust by the Washington State Historical Society. (www.wshs.org/wshm/online-exhibits/curtis/exhibitb.htm)

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

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;

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. View of water column at Northern Pacific Railway Company's yards, located at 2102-2324 East L Street in Tacoma's tideflats area.

Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Penstocks--Tacoma; Hydraulic facilities--Tacoma; Water pumps--Tacoma; Water use--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroads--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Great Northern Railway Company operated passenger trains and freight car shipping services from Tacoma. The company had freight yards, railroad repair stations and passenger ticket terminals. The train car repairs and shipping were handled at the yards located at 2021-23 East D Street, with a freight office at 401 East 21st Street; the passenger station was located at 116 South 9th Street. View of Great Northern railroad freight car number 43959 at the Great Northern freight house. TPL-10458

Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. The Northern Pacific Railroad was created by Congress on July 2, 1864. Actual construction got underway in 1870 near Carlton, Minnesota. The railroad closely followed the route of Lewis and Clark. Then, after 13 years, the last spike was driven at Gold Creek, Montana, on September 8, 1893. (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;

Northern Pacific locomotive No. 1783 rested on the turntable at the Northern Pacific Railway round house at 2211 East D St. in May of 1949. The round house was built in the late 1890s to service Northern Pacific's fleet of steam locomotives. Over the years, as the railroad companies switched from steam to diesel-electric engines, work at the round house dropped off. In the early 1970s the round house was closed down, and eventually demolished. The Reliance Lumber Company at 323 Puyallup Avenue can be seen behind the railroad facilities.. (TNT 11/30/1971 p.1) TPL-4421, TPL-3728

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

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;

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. A side view of locomotive number 1783. In Washington state, the mainline crossed the Cascade Mountains at Stampede Pass, through Stampede Tunnel, 9,834 feet long built at an altitude of 2,852 feet. A switchback was originally used to cross the Pass until a tunnel was completed in May 1888. (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;

Members from Afifi Temple and their spouses would be traveling to Denver, Colorado to attend a Shriner Director's meeting. The club members would be traveling aboard Union Pacific's "Portland Rose", they would be returning on April 4, 1949. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/29/49, p. 2).

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroads--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma);

In March of 1949, 57 children from the morning and afternoon kindergarten classes of the Fern Hill school took a 40 mile roundtrip train ride from Tacoma's Union Station to Auburn. Ninety percent of the children had never been on a train before. After the ride, they were given a tour of the station by the stationmaster, and all 57 children climbed onto a giant scale in the baggage room. The entire group weighed 2,880 lbs. (T.N.T., 3/27/49, p. A-7). TPL-8804

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In June 1946 Northern Pacific Railway decided to expand their freight depot and add modern offices to this location. This building remodeling was an important improvement for the railroad company, it gave Northern Pacific Railway modern facilities and became an important West Coast terminal. Throughout the years Northern Pacific has expanded in Tacoma and in the United States, making this railroad company one of the largest railroads in the country. Close up view of Northern Pacific's railroad caboose number 1627. TPL-5840

Railroad cabooses--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

View of DeSoto automobile, white washed tires, DeSoto wheels, and Washington State license plates; railroad freight train in background. Photo ordered by Phillip Horther, President-Treasurer of West Coast Fruit and Produce Company, the company was located at 1191 Dock Street; photographer information indicated photo was ordered after an automobile and bicycle accident.

Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; City & town life--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1940-1950; DeSoto automobile; West Coast Fruit & Produce Co. (Tacoma);

Maxwell-Runacres. A June 24, 1949, view of two bridges over the rushing Spokane River in downtown Spokane, Washington. A railroad train is crossing the river on the upper bridge. A reader has identified the arched bridge closest to the foreground as the Monroe Bridge in Spokane. This was the third Monroe (Street) Bridge. At the time of its November 23, 1911, opening, it was considered the largest concrete-arch bridge in the United States. The steel viaduct running diagonally across it was built by the Union Pacific Railroad three years later in 1914 and not removed until 1973 in time for Expo '74. The historic bridge gradually deteriorated and was dismantled with a new bridge, nearly identical to the old, opening in September of 2005. (www.historylink.org) (Identification provided by reader)

Railroad bridges--Spokane; Railroads--Spokane; Bridges--Spokane; Monroe Street Bridge (Spokane); Spokane River (Wash.);

Several shots at Milwaukee shops, also studio shots of three people, Great Lakes Steel Crop., Steel Floor Div., Detroit, Mich. Three unidentified people are talking together outside where they can overlook the industrial Tacoma Tideflats. The man on the left holds a cane in his hands, crossed in front of him. The woman in the middle wears a straw hat decorated with artificial flowers. The gentleman on the right is wearing a bow tie and a double-breasted suit.

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Aged persons--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several shots at Milwaukee shops, also studio shots of three people, Great Lakes Steel Crop., Steel Floor Div., Detroit, Mich. Men are working on a railroad car at the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company shop. A man has stopped his welding job while several men in suits are reviewing the work.

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

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.;

Signe Sutherland, Helen D. (Mrs. Larry) Harris and Elizabeth Robb (L-R) have their bags packed and are leaving Union Station for the 10th biennial convention of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's clubs in San Francisco. They are reviewing the schedule while waiting for the next step of their journey. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana.

Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Luggage; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Tacoma Business & Professional Women's Club (Tacoma); Sutherland, Signe; Robb, Elizabeth; Harris, Helen D.;

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);

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;

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);

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);

Logs are being transformed into railroad ties for exporting in November, 1951. Men shown are feeding logs into a circular saw at a timbered site. The finished product, railroad ties, are shown stacked nearby. Photograph ordered by Export Pacific, Tacoma.

Railroad ties--Tacoma; Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Saws; Export Pacific Co. (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;

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;

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);

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;

Engine #E-4 pulls into the Milwaukee Road's depot on April 21, 1954. A "Danger 3000 volts" warning sign alerts people to the fact that this is an electric locomotive. The train stopped very close to the new passenger depot. It was much smaller than the original depot on East 25th St. and built on the tide flats parallel to the railroad's freight yards. The old depot was finally torn down in 1972, leaving only freight sheds; the site is now the bustling Freighthouse Square. (History of Pierce County, p. 22)

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