Is there any info of NP operations of its line between Connell and Odair? Part of it was built as the Connell Northern and the other was the ? Any photos anywhere? The line was ripped out between Odair and Wheeler in 1979.
I believe I know someone who could provide some info on the operations. Only problem is, he's retired. (NP/BN man.) And when I heard last from him this week, he was leaving on vacation that same day. But didn't say how many weeks. If you don't get any answers, why not give this topic a nudge in about two weeks. Perhaps by then he'll be home. I can try catching him then. Boxcab E50
I heard back from the fellow. He didn't have a lot for you: "I never worked that territory. It was served by a "Wheeler Turn" local that came out of Pasco every morning and returned every night, probably on a work order. I used to be able to hear the Wheeler depot talking to the crew, when I was working at Ellensburg, on the radio in the Eburg depot. I do know that once in about 1957 the GN Empire Builder was detoured from Adrian-Cheney-Spokane via the NP. This detour was ordered out of the GN dispatchers office at Seattle, co ordinated thru NP office at Spokane. No other details. That piece of track also got service from Cheney to about Hartline from a local that went west out of Yardley (Spokane) in the morning. --Out one day and back the next. There was sort of an unofficial division point at Adrian, and it has been a long time since there was any kind of thru service Pasco to Cheney. I think when Grand Coulee was being built most of the cement and steel that came by rail, came up from Pasco, but I could be wrong about that." The time period this fellow worked, such as at Eburg, was during the 1960's. Hope this helps a little. Boxcab E50
That is interesting. I had heard about the detours. Some time ago I had seen a photo of bridge 126, which crossed the GN and Crab creek at Adrian. It was a large wooden affair until the end. Thanks for asking Ken. Dan
Now that you having me thinking about these lines, they seem to have been somewhat overlooked. Excepting a little bit about the early days, (SLS&E line), there doesn't seem to be much that I can recall being published. Sort of like the Milw between Warden and Malden. Somewhere, I have it in mind that there is a B&W photo of the Medical Lake depot in a book. Perhaps one of Dick Green's works? Boxcab E50
I hadn't thought of asking Dick. Will have to drop by when I am in Odessa next week. In one of the NP pictorals, there was a shot or 2 of a GP9 working near Wheeler, but there was nothing like a landmark in the photo. Dan
