In driving to Ellensburg yesterday, I noticed a new large electrical switchyard being installed just east of the Renslow trestle. Work being done by some Puget Sound Electric outfit, or something similar. They are installing a wind generator farm about 2 miles north of that spot. Who owns the power line along the old MILW ROW through Washington? I wonder if they are going to tie in this new power source to this line?
Much of the Milw transmission grid went to area power companies. Says something about it's real value! Was it BPA that bought the Beverly Bridge, and lines across there? Or Puget Power? Can't remember tonight. Boxcab E50
I have a copy of the survey from Kittitas to beverly for the upgrade of the wanapum-hyak electrical transmission line owned by puget power. this was done in 1990, so not sure if they still own it. Good source of information as they discuss some of the historical sites along the ROW.
Greg, I think I saw that book at the CWU library on Wednesday! Is that the one with a picture of MILW SD40-2s crossing Renslow trestle on the cover?
Dan, that's the same book. No updated pics but will have them soon. I just spent 2 hours last night finishing my power poles. All of them represent the area almost perfectly. I am trying to decide if I want to do the major power lines that also follow the right of way. I know they were there in my modeling era (76-80) so maybe I will. I also just received my first milw bay window caboose. pics next time. off to Cohasset for some of that fine pit run gravel!
I will post some pics of layout stuff soon... However, I will say that the power company has changed the landscaping in Renslow quite a bit. On the west end of the bridge they have added two huge steel towers, and a new dirt road that cuts into the hill. Just below the bridge where Boylston rd. goes underneath I-90 is where they have added the new switchboard. It is rather large and very shiny! Personally, I wish it had never been done... Because the power company is changing and adding new poles along the ROW, it was closed. Saw trucks moving along it where trains once traveled... So I wanted to get to Cohasset. I figured I could travel up the dirt road to the east trailhead parking/camping lot (which is between Doris and Cohasset). However the road was closed. Not sure why the army closed it, maybe it had something to do with the power company? It was open over the summer when I went out there. Anyhow, so I parked the car next to the ROW where it crosses Huntzinger Road. Then walked to Cohasset. I found some interesting things along the way too, as I wander of the trail a bit, will post pics soon on those too! Other than the small hang-ups it went all right. Got my dirt (3 buckets total, 1 for ROW and 2 for ground cover). Cohasset pit run gravel is the middle bucket. I sifted most of the big stuff out while I was there but I need resift through them again to get that fine stuff! Now I was wondering if anyone would be interested in another thread. I have many photos I could post of my trips out along the old ROW. No train pics but it might be interesting for those who've seen it and would like to know what it looks like today. I ask because I don't want a useless thread sitting around. Most of the pics I took are of ROW and its scenery and whatever railroad related things I found along the way. These were all taken mainly for my modeling purposes. By the way does eastern wa have prairie dogs? I swear I almost hit one on Huntzinger rd.
Greg- If you've got some pictures you'd share, please do! Be sure you check those buckets for magnetites, before using any on the layout. Or you could run all your engines. Yes. There are many ground dwelling critters. When exploring the old r-o-w, I used to enjoy the area out around the Stampede Pass road. Watching and listening to the Pica. Boxcab E50
how do I do this? I'm confused, do you mean 'ruin my engines' or literalty 'run them to find the magnetites'? thanks for the help...I did not know about this caution.
Greg- All your engines have motors with some style of a magnet. In the earth are magnetic (already magnetized) particles. And also iron ores. Model RR ballast usually has a few loose pieces. If magnetic in any form, these can be attracted to an engine passing above them...... Find an old speaker magnet. Which should be able to lift out anything capable of doing damage from your buckets.... If that doesn't show anything, you're in great shape. It pays to be careful. Just in case..... Just in case.... Boxcab E50
All my track laying work on the renslow section is complete. Cordboard is glued and so is the track. Next I am going to soder a few connecting spots and then lay ballast. But I wanted to test my ground dirt I picked up from Eastern Wa. Below are the results. After filtering for the fine and very fine stuff below is what I got. This picture was taken shortly after laying the glue and water mix so hopefully the dirt will dry in its natural tone, which is lighter colored. I might sand the top of it later with a very dust type dirt I found as well.
I have some stuff that I am going to try out for the sage brush. Its just odd shapes of a foam material. from far back it looks like it may work. for the dry grass, I am still looking. however I like the stuff from Silflor. they make some nice prarie tuffs that may work well. However, they are expsensive.
Ok so I did so more dirty work! I have picture showing a comparison. The lighter colored stuff has been glued and dry now for a week. The dark stuff next to it is the same dirt but is now wet from the glue and is in the process of drying.
I was looking thru an issue of Classic Trains and there is a center fold out of Renslow in '64, before I-90 ran under it. Just what looks like a dirt road.
Right. That's all there was for a local road. For farm access. Old US Highway 10 was, (still is there), north of Renslow, other side of the hill. Ran between Kittitas, to near the old Gingko Forest site, then south to Vantage. Boxcab E50
