Does anyone know of plans and/or maps of the steam engine facilities in Great Falls? As I understand it, GN built the 2-6-8-0's here in GF. Seems the shops would have to be fairly extensive to support erecting scratchbuilt locomotives. There's plenty of old brick building in the GF near near the enginehouse that could be former GN shop buildings. I'd like to document what's left, but I dunno what's what?
I can't help with building identifications. But, would say get those pictures now. And then you can rename them later. You never know when the midnight bulldozer will strike. Boxcab E50
Ghosts of the GN Stevens Pass is a good place to find ghosts of the GN. The Iron Goat Trail is built on the original 1892 grade between Scenic and Wellington. The original Cascade Tunnel is located at Wellington. The town is gone but there is a lot of building foundations. Along the trail there are the snowsheds at Wellington and the walls where wooden snowsheds were as well as tunnels and bridge abutments. Matt Cawby has a site www. microvoltradio.com/railroad/gnry.htm that has some excellent photos of the trail. Search Cascade Tunnel for it. The caboose in the photo a few posts back is NOT a GN but a CB&Q with GH paint. That is probably the reason it is not listed in the GN sites.
Nice, that reminds me. I need to get down to Interbay and see if I can find any more of the GN Woodchip cars. It's been a few years since I have seen them and now I have a nice digital camera to take pics with.
There is a GN boxcar in the Sandpoint (ex GN) yard, it is big sky blue and in great condition. Also I just worked a plow train all last week and we used a ex-GN spreader and even broke it, the replacement was a real gem built in 1936 and pretty much origional except for BN paint, no pics though and I do not know if it was GN. Kevin
Some pictures I've taken that I think are GN related. Skykomish, WA 2006- I believe this was a GN numbered spreader in a prior life? Skykomish, WA 2006- This is the GN x294 caboose prior to it being moved to the Iron Goat trailhead in Scenic, I've got a few more but I need to locate them.
GN Ghosts There are losts of GN Ghosts on the Iron Goat Trail. If possoble hike the trail during the summer after it melts out. The green snow dozer is from GN days and is usually kept in Skykomish when not needed. There is in addition to the X294 at the IGT trail head the X228 in Skykomish used as a private residence. The owner wasn't home whin I took the photo but since it is a residence be respectful if stopping by.
I'd sure like to see that snow dozer in action. This winter has been a good one for someone possibly catching it working. Boxcab E50
Have you guy's seen the pic's of the snow-dozer on Stevens Pass lately? Martin burwash has a buch and it's really gettin' a work out this year! If you see pic's, look at all the GN "MOW red" showing thru from being rubbed by tons of snow!!:teeth:
