Spokane Wa ?'s

[Kevin M]

Well I am new to the Spokane area, I spent my preveous 4 years in the Marines mostly in Cali, but a few other places as well, and before that I lived in the Everett Wa area. I love Spokane and love all the trains one can find here, but I had some questions about the history of the trains in the area.
There is a park on the Spokane river just north of the interstate my wife refers to as peoples park, but in the phone book is shows it as high bridge park. Now you can clearly see where the bridge conected to the east side of the canyon, and there are concrete fondations in the water. Who's bridge was this, GN, UP, and when was it torn down?
There are also two railroad overpass's at the bottom of the hill where I-90 and the big Y BNSF bridge cross the canyon, I have guesses that at least one of them is the old UP route into the city but what about the other one?
And my final question of the day is.... While making a delivery on the south hill I came across Ben Burr (I think that was what is was called) park, there was a sheet metal train engine in the park so I got out to read the sing and it said it was land the city bought from the GN in 1955 and was part of a branch line surveyed in 1905. I asume the line was never built but where was this line to go? How where they going to get it onto the south hill? It does not seem like that would be a easy task without a nice grade.
Thank you if you can help.
Kevin Mumaw
Civillian once again

[fitz]

Kevin, welcome back to the civilian world and thank you for serving your country and all of us citizens in the USMC. Of course, you are not really a civilian. Once a Marine, always a Marine. :D
I am no expert in Spokane area but will fathom a wild guess and say those bridge abutments are probably the Milwaukee Road remnants. They tore a lot of track and bridges out when they left the area. :(
Boxcab probably knows. You should try to connect with Ted Curphey, "funnelfan" on the net. He really gets out in that area and does some great photo presentations on the net.

[BoxcabE50]

Kevin-

Here's a place to start: www.icehouse.net/funnelfan/ (http://www.icehouse.net/funnelfan/)

The "Y" bridge described is probably Latah Junction. A lot has changed over the years. Trackage was greatly altered, when they rebuilt for the World's Fair. ("Expo '74.")

The Milw line toward Coeur D'Alene was abandoned. Now mostly a hike/bike/tax waster. The SP&S line toward the Tri-Cities was abandoned, when Frisco management made a big mistake back in the late 1980's.

The ex- GN line enters town from the west/nw. The former NP for the E/SE. The UP and it's branches..... The ex-SCDA&P/GN lines. Etc.

Believe a short line operator now has the branch to Fairchild AFB.

There's plenty to explore. A swap meet upcoming. Should be an NTRAK group in the area.

Wander a little further east, and explore the old UP Wallace Branch. South and check out the St.Maries River RR on ex-Milw track. Pop over Lookout Pass, and see if any Milw ghosts are out and about.... Chase the MRL up the Clark Fork. Check out the branch line up toward Chewelah, etc. Short line operation these days. What's left of Marshall Junction, etc., etc.

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

Another place for answers is the SpokaneRH group at Yahoogroups. Lots of info in the archives of the list, as well as a number of experts who were there when the changes were taking place.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpokaneRH/?yguid=146190240

[SDP45]

The UP (Milwaukee was a tenant) was the next bridge north of the current BNSF bridge. GN was further north. This UP bridge lent the name to High Bridge Park.
At the bottom of Sunset hill (I90) the crossing with the fancy stonework underneath was the SP&S. It connected with the GN at Fort Wright Jct. The other crossing was the UP/MILW.
The SP&S tunnelled underneath the cemetary just north of the freeway to get to the GN. The tunnel is still there, but inaccessible.
The GN had bought the Spokane Couer d'Alene and Palouse which ran south of Spokane. It did go over the South Hill area, well east of the hospitals (its been a few years since I lived in Spokane, so I have forgotten a few street names). The GN line crossed in the vicinity of Napa Street before heading up the hill. The RR bridge on Trent near downtown with the UP logo was part of the GN line. Parts of it are still visible as you go south out of town, as well as the grade partially visible and walkable up the south hill.
Go out to the UP yards east of town. This is the former Milwaukee yard that the UP took over after 1980. It is going away too. Where Home Depot and Costco are now were also part of the yard up to about 8 years ago.
The parcel of land across from Spokane Community College (where many of the recent model trains shows have been held) was once the shops and yard of the Spokane International. Hard to beleive that small of a chunk of land could hold all that.
Be sure to head out to Hillyard and see where the former GN shops used to be. Quite a bit used to be out there. Now all gone.
At the intersection of Division and Trent downtown there used to be a concrete lined trench that used to lead the UP/MILW tracks to the downtown UP station. Every year that goes by, more of it disappears as development takes over. There is a tunnel nearby, next to the old Schade Brewery building. You can see the west portal from one of the roads, with the right of way holding stuff for Browns Building Supply.
Get a hold of the guys at the River City Modelers train club. Ask for Jerry Quinn. He could hook you up with more particulars than I can think of in the few minutes I have been typing. He has a ton of pictures of it all too.

[Kevin M]

Thank you for all the info guys, I can not wait to get out and explore the area more.
Kevin Mumaw