The Portland and Western is still working on the upgrade of the track between Portland and Clatskanie. The tie gang is here in town replacing ties. The new 130 pound welded rail is in. This afternoon the local came westbound with a new chop nose torpedo boat GP9 right behind the P&W GP40. The paint was yellow with a green stripe and the Geep was lettered WRIX 4540. The paint was so bright and shiney it still looked wet. The guess is the Geep is going to be the switcher for the ethanol distillery in Clatskanie.
From the Net Found these two photo on the net. I'm going to Clatskanie tomorrow to. try and get photos of my own. I shoot film so it might take a while for my photos Hope it is OK to use these until then.
Clatskanie is about 60 miles west of Portland on the former SP&S Ry. "A" Line. There is a video of the line on www.brian894X4.com Go on the site and find Active & Abandon Railroads then hit the Railroad Videos box and then Lewis & Clark Explorer. The video is about half an hour and is taken from the train.
I know the site- you're right, it's a good one. I used to work down in Salem on contract, and was there from November 2006 to February 2007- my apartment was just a block or so from Minto on the OE line. I used Brian McCamish's site as reference for railfanning in western Oregon.
I saw this one at the Willbridge Yard recently. It's unusual, for sure. I am guessing some sort of leasing company. I had never seen one of these before.
Went to Clatskanie and the WRIX 4540 was already sequestered out of sight. I checked with the guard at the gate and she said the locomotive went in last night with some freight cars. Just going to have to get lucky and catch it out.
