Washington & Great Northern

[Striker]

In 1905 James Hill built the first railroad into the Okanogan Valley of Eastern Washington. One mile east of Oroville Wa. a 375 foot Howe Truss bridge was built across the Similkameen River in 1906 and the rails continued to Nighthawk and on into Canada. A major flood in 1949 led to the replacement of the wood bridge in 1952. The replacement bridge was substantial with 3 massive concrete piers and steel girders. This line was abandoned in 1972 and the track was pulled in 1985. Last year the bridge was converted for a railtrail and a concrete deck and railing was installed for that use.

I have a couple questions about the bridge that you may be able to help with. The girders for the Similkameen bridge were recycled from other parts of the country. The three main spans came from the SC&P Ry according to the bridge plans. What does that stand for? The north span came from Dedham Wis. and the south span came from McCue Wash. Where is McCue Wash.?

If you want to see the bridge and trail goto the facebook link below. Thanks

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Similkameen-Trail/125033350876813

 

[mrmoose]

Spokane, Couer D' Alene, and Palouse RR.

 

[sledgehammer]

ok Mr Moose....double or nothing....where was McCue Washington???? lol

 

[mrmoose]

ok Mr Moose....double or nothing....where was McCue Washington???? lol

What is the Mansfield Branch, Alex!!

It was located on the GN's Mansfield branch, and records indicate a bridge in that area was repaired and/or replaced about 1940. So the bridge remains may have been stored, until they needed it at your bridge.

 

[Striker]

Thank you for the information on the bridge, it is quite an impressive structure.

You seem to have access to records - what do they say about the Similkameen Bridge?

That north span from Dedham Wis had what appears to have been a shield of some sort attached to it. Burlington Northern doesn't use a shield that I know of. It seems there are several railroads that move through Dedham. Do you know if they traded parts?

From what I nave read this route that went in and out of the US and Canada was built by the Victoria Vancouver and Eastern and the US by the Washington and Great Northern. This is the only place that I have heard of the Washington and Great Northern. How do these names work, just a couple companies slammed together for this project? Probably too many questions.

 

[mrmoose]

Back at the turn of the century, the railroad barrons, namely James J. Hill, wanted to keep things quiet when entering a territory where other railroads were nearby, as to not let them know he was interested in surveying for his railroad and such, so he would either build a railroad under another name, (Washington & Great Northern), or buy a small railroad in the area, and keep it quiet as to who bought it. Then just buy it, or merge it into his Great Northern before anyone realised what he was doing.

As for records, I just Googled the name McCue, WA., saw it was near the GN Mansfield branch, Googled GN Mansfield Branch, and viola-found a link on the branch that had all info on it. Simple detective work!

 

[mrmoose]

The credit really goes to SDP45, a member on here who has done some serious leg work, research, and general knowledge of Central Washington Railroads, and the GN in specific!!

http://www.sdp45.blogspot.com/

Lot's of stuff you might like.

 

[Striker]

I Googled McCue and came up short. They have a nice site there for the Mansfield Branch if I had the bridge number here, I could see where it came from.