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;

Wharf scene on Commencement Bay, terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Tacoma, Washington Territory. Photograph was taken circa 1885. Masted ships are docked waiting to unload/load cargo.

View looking south of the Northern Pacific Railroad track along Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. Sidewheeler steamship North Pacific at dock. The Northern Pacific wharf lay below today's Stadium Way and would serve, according to historian Murray Morgan, as a "third world between Old Tacoma and New Tacoma." (Morgan: South on the Sound, p. 48-49) KING-001, TPL-018.

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);

Northern Pacific Railroad track along Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) and tideflats in background. The railroad tracks were built on fill dirt. The water-filled half-moon section would also be filled in to become the railroad yard, called appropriately the "half-moon yard." KING-008, G76.1-101 (Digital copy only. No print or negative available).

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

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

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

Five men stand in front of the Milwaukee Road's Engine #E-4, two with stop watches, on April 21, 1954. Also known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, the Milwaukee was noted for its efficient, fast electric locomotives. During World War II, these electrics were due to be eliminated due to obsolescence, however the fact that they were so easily maintained and ran so effortlessly, delayed such action. Diesels finally overpowered the electrics; the last electric train ran in Washington State in November, 1972. The Milwaukee Road provided an economic boost to the Puget Sound area for decades; in 1954, their payroll was 4.5 million dollars and the railroad employed over 1000 people. (History of Pierce County, p. 22, TNT 4-24-54, p. 36))

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

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;

Passengers waiting to board the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad's trains could relax comfortably in the Milwaukee Road's new passenger depot at E. 11th and Milwaukee Way. In a photograph taken in April, 1954, there were many chairs available in a spacious, air conditioned room with plate glass windows to view incoming and departing traffic. A multi-window ticket office provided efficient service with gold-tone photo murals located above. The railroad had an open house for the public to tour the new $150,000 depot, hundreds apparently did so. (TNT 4-18-54, p. 1, TNT 4-22-54, B-4, TNT 4-24-54, p. 36)

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

Harry Clark, 65, who lived at 3823 E. J St. is shown sitting at the throttle of a Northern Pacific locomotive in this photograph from December 1938. Mr. Clark had just retired after working for over 48 years as a railroad engineer and "truckman." A truckman repaired broken parts on locomotives. His many years as an engineer made him an excellent engine repairman. (T. Times, 12/28/38, p.5)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Railroad locomotives; Railroad employees; Clark, Harry;

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;

All Aboard, as 280 local Shriners prepare to board a sixteen car special train on June 4, 1938 enroute to the 1938 Imperial Council Session to be held June 6-9 in Los Angeles. Several Shriners stand on the observation platform of the train at Union Station. The sign on the railroad car reads: "Afifi Shrine, Golden Jubilee Special, 1888 - 1938, Tacoma, Wash." They will be joined by fraternal brothers from Southwest and Central Washington. (T. Times 6/3/1938, pg. 2)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1930-1940;

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);

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);

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);

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);