Skagit River Railway

gcrr · **Posted:** Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:38 pm

This afternoon I was looking through the November 1979 Trains that I had picked up a flea market not too long ago. On page 18 of the news photos section there is a photo and short blurb about the recent restoration of Seattle City Light 2-6-2 #6. It was being used for excursions between Sedro Woolley and Concrete, WA on an ex-GN line. I had never heard of this operation, so I checked my trusty Steam Passenger Service Directory. The only issue that I have found them in is the 1981 Edition. One of the neat things in their listing is that they say after the passengers disembark at the end of their trip, the train backs out of the station and returns for the benefit of photographers. Of note is that they bought a full page advertisement on the next page after their listing for a Skagit River Railway silver medallion.

What ever happened to this operation? I wonder if the medallions were ever actually cast?

I did a Google search and found a couple of sites which mostly discuss the original railway built for the city dam construction:
http://home.att.net/~wrpn/skagithome.html
http://home.att.net/~wrpn/gorgedam.html

This site has a little bit about the 1980s tourist RR with some postcard images:
http://wasteam.railfan.net/srr.html

Here's the cutsheet on that pretty little Prarie:
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1271
That little engine sure did look good pulling a couple of coaches.

Matt Helton

FVHRS · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:55 am

One of our members and previous director, in the early 1950s, took his 8mm movie camera
and filmed his journey on the Skagit River Railway. (SRR) On this occasion the train consisted of de-motored Oregon Electric interurbans, (one of your web page additions shows them) pulled by an electric freight motor. The movie shows spectacular scenery with a journey, at the end, up a lift similar to a funicular railway. This allowed patrons to get up to lake level. Customers, if so moved, could then take a boat journey on Skagit lake.
As I understand it parts of the right-of-way became parts of the Cascade highway.

I enjoy viewing the film, now converted to a DVD, showing a bit of Washington transportation history. I mentioned the SRR to my son-in-law in Seattle and he had never heard of it.

Robert Ashton
Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

This thread got mentioned in a recent discussion of Skagit 6.

Here's a link to some more history on the line. Note that the incline railway is still in existence. Back in the 1990's (?) the company I was working for bid on doing some work on the structure. We didn't get the project, but I'm pretty sure somebody did the work.

The incline is no longer used for rail traffic, as the line has been abandoned and removed, but it's still there and I think they use it on occasion for vehicles related to the dam.

It may have been open for tours at one time, I'm not certain, but the website now notes that access is restricted to the area. I don't know if it's visible from any public location or not. Probably not, it was a pretty remote location.

http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/tour ... 5_ihst.htm

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

OK, looks like the incline tours were another victim of the post 9/11 security changes.

However, the page also has a better photo of the incline, so it's worth a look anyway, even if all it says is "Keep out!"

http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/tour ... 5_incl.htm

skytop45 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:01 pm **Posts:** 50

The line had 3 ex-MILW coaches, one of which is still stored in Concrete. One coach went to a golf course in Bend, OR and the 3rd coach is AWOL. If anyone has any other information regarding the coaches original numbers or current location, it would be greatly appriciated.

o anderson · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:24 pm

Here is the Concrete MILW coach:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slackaction/5480877524

skytop45 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:01 pm **Posts:** 50

I was able to get a tour of that car by the owner, which was very interesting. Now I am trying to figure out which other two cars were on that railroad...When those coaches first got to concrete, they were in UP colors and still had MILW numbers...I am hoping someone out there has photos and can help me identify which cars were present. Below is a link to my photos of the car, including the interior.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33672589@N ... 404821273/

Berta1963 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:22 pm **Posts:** 4

I believe I can help you with the location of the third Milwaukee passenger car from the second Skagit River Railway. It is located in Sedro-Woolley Wa. I own it.

How do I download photos from my iPhone to this board?

Berta1963 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:22 pm **Posts:** 4

https://www.facebook.com/bertadoll/media_set?set=a.10155165861160678.1073741867.596565677&type=3

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

The reincarnated Skagit River RR ran on the former Great Northern branch from Sedro Woolley to Concrete, WA. As I recall the tourist operation had to use union BN crews. The managment got a lot of people ticked off at them which did not help. After the line folded the #6 was movrf back to display at Newhalem. They did sell medalions and 1 oz silver bars as a fund raiser but I haven't seen one in years.

wesp · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2017 8:00 pm

Is the incline operable?

skytop45 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:01 pm **Posts:** 50

Do you know which car number the coach is?

Berta1963 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:22 pm **Posts:** 4

The previous owners painted over everything. There are some photos from when it was moved from Concrete to our home. One photo shows the number JAK 96. I don’t know if that is helpful.

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

Check inside the electrical cabinet, sometimes the car number was there.