Passenger car Tillamook 1990

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2019 1:03 am

A couple of other incidents that concerned people on the West Coast.

Oil tanker SS Montebello owned by Union Oil Co. of California was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-21 on Dec 23, 1941, off the California coast (4 miles off Cambria). This occurred shortly after it left Port San Luis (near San Luis Obispo) with a load of oil for Vancouver, B.C.

On Feb 23, 1942, Japanese submarine I-17 surfaced and shelled an oil storage facility at Ellwood, California, near Santa Barbara.

Aarne H. Frobom · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:52 am

The strangest funicular railway ride I ever took was the elevator to the top of the Akron zeppelin erecting hall, on a tour with the Society for Industrial Archeology. A few tourists were allowed to walk around on top of the hangar, from which a blimp could be seen approaching like the ghost of the Macon. I strongly recommend the twice-annual SIA tours for access to stuff you won't see elsewhere.

Aarne Frobom
Helium Heights, Michigan

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

An advertising postcard, I was given when visiting in 1990.
Showing Loco 702.

ALCO C-415, with High Cab option.
Fitted with Alco 251F 1500hp. V-8 motor.

A pretty rare machine, only a handful built.

Blt. Dec 1966 for SP as 2407.
Joined Tillamook dinner train in 1989.

Brief history below.
Southern Pacific 2407
Columbia & Cowlitz 702 1979 Longview, Wash.
Oregon Coastline Express 702 c. 1989 Tillamook, Ore. dinner train owned by Robert Steele
Spirit of Oregon Dinner Train 702 c. 1992 Roy, Ore., then to Hood River, Ore. in 1997
Burlington Junction Ry. 702? 1998 Sold to shortline in Burlington, Iowa

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

The back of the card has some handwritten notes by yours truly.
The car behind 702 is Hebo. Rebuilt ex-SP commuter car.

The map shows the route north from Tillamook.

Capacity 94 passengers, no kitchen, approx. $300k.

I was taught...Loco's add buzz...cars make money.

Brought to you by Bob Steele.

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

Brian Norden,

Great links.
Clearly shows how absolutely integrated the railroads were with the building of the base.

Thanks to some good friends,
was able to take this colour shot of the museum from the air.
Shortly after the other hanger burned down.
The mountains provide a good match.

hi-plains · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:10 pm

Old Smokey wrote:

The back of the card has some handwritten notes by yours truly.
The car behind 702 is Hebo. Rebuilt ex-SP commuter car.

So, what happened to these two cars?

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

hi-plains,
That's question I've been trying to figure out, and why this site is so useful for research.

It looks like engine 702, and the cars were sold to Spirit of Oregon Dinner Train in 1992.
The engine, at least, went off to Hood River, Oregon in the mid 90's.
Don't know where the cars went, but as they were fairly new, they would have good resale value.
It would seem Dinner Train operations come and go, but the cars find a new home.

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1270

Columbia & Coulitz
#701(1st) Alco C415 C/N 6018-01 11-68
Spirit of Oregon Dinner Train #701 Tillamook, OR 1986
Mount Hood RR #701 1996
Burlingn Junction Ry #701 Burlingn, IA 1998

#702(1st) Alco C415 C/N 3458-08 1966
ex-Southern Pacific #2407
C&C #702
Spirit of Oregon Dinner Train #702 Tillamook, OR 1986
Mount Hood RR #702 1996
Burlingn Junction Ry #702 Burlingn, IA 1998

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

Further research turned up this text scan from a railfan magazine.
Sorry it's so big.
Worth reading, as it explains a lot of things about the Tillamook operation.
Another California to Reno "Fun Train".

BTW..written by the late Hal Lewis..who is very much missed.
Given the level of detail...he probably was involved in some way.

Found this excellent Internet shot, of the actual "49er Express".
Looks like several cars in the consist were "Tillamook". Like the end one's, and some of the domes..
Doyle McCormack's F45 was also involved.

Have a couple of leads as to where this consist ended up.
Dinner trains come and go...but the cars move on.

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

Brian Norden, Had the privilege of landing at Tillimook in B-25 "Silver Lady".
You can see the Twin Towers of the burned down hanger you spoke of.

HudsonL · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2010 10:22 am **Posts:** 548

Some of those ex-SP BiLevel Transcisco cars are now in the BNSF Fleet.

-Hudson

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 13, 2019 12:05 am

I believe the domes are now in the UP fleet.

They were used for a time on the Wine Country Dinner Train out of Paw Paw, Michigan, in the 1990s.

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

Brian Norden
B25 "Silver Lady" ....Low and Over.
Even from far away, those hangers are huge.
As you know..here's what it held during the war.

There was a big chart on the restaurant wall showing the relative sizes.
The Goodyear blimp, seen here at Langley BC....is one of the smaller ones.

Old Smokey · **Joined:** Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:58 pm **Posts:** 172

HudsonL and NS3322.
Went online after your accurate feedback.
Been very helpful in tracking down these cars.
Thanks.