Found the answer to my question. The two units are going to Rainier Rail, which is taking over operations from Frederickson on southward. Tacoma Rail has just ceased operating the Tacoma to Frederickson segment. That ex-MILW line, the famous "Hill/Gulch" route is to be abandoned by the City. Proposed re-use is the usual hiking/biking trail. Oh well.
Dang, thanks for the info, I gotta' make it down there soon to check it out. Issue of Trains magazine last year had an article about Rainier Rail, and how they've redone the whole line.
I don't know anything about the Tacoma area, but I just read that WestRock is closing its mill in the "Tideflats". It's a fair sized mill, employing 400 people and producing 1,400 Tons of bleached and unbleached packaging-grade paper, linerboard and saturating board each day. This mill joins two others in the Carolinas that are closing that I've recently mentioned on TrainBoard. I think I remember @BoxcabE50 mentioning the Tideflats and a Milwaukee Road yard? Is this mill served by Tacoma Rail?
The MILW facilities known as "Tideflats" were all removed. Over the years, much else has changed. A lot of shippers and track were removed. But new rail was laid and a bunch of container stuff and new industry replaced what was gone. TMBL/TR built an new and enlarged yard, plus engine facilities. Around 120 years ago, this area was all actually tide flats. A couple of streams encountered the bay there. (Puyallup River, Hylebos Creek.) Then came sawmills, MILW, other industries and the Port- which all contributed to filling it in.
all those jobs now going to Chinese sad many of out industries closing up. most selling out to chinese so now there making our paper and stuff. too many regulations here in the states............
