WCRC = Washington Central Railroad
CWR = Central Washington Railroad [KEPRTV]
CBR = Columbia Basin Railroad [TrainOrders]
See stampedej's notes at the bottom of these notes concerning who may currently operate this branch line.
From TrainOrders:
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| KEPR Action News posted, cropped WOW! The train bridge is aglow after it caught fire last night. This is off I-82 between Prosser and Benton City. If you have pictures you want to share go to https://keprtv.com/chimein Pic courtesy: Brian Stott Mike McLellan shared Last night off I-82. Warren Caudle: Eugene Hofmann Wildfires, fueled by 50+ mph wind. |
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| Sharon Worlund commented on KEPR's post Terrible loss, but at least it wasn’t the whole structure. I don’t know if that will make much difference in their ability to rebuild/fix it. [Note the rails hanging in the air on the far side.] This also happens to be a key rail freight corridor between the Yakima Valley and the Tri-Cities. Not sure how rail freight leaves the Yakima Valley with this bridge now gone. |
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| Street View |
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| safe_image for Fire train helps battle blaze in Yakima River Canyon BNSF's fire trains have been called into action in Washington state. Two trains were deployed this week to help firefighters contain a wildfire burning near the track on our Fallbridge Subdivision, next to the Columbia River. One of them also assisted with the Evans Canyon Fire near Yakima. The specialized trains based in Wishram and Pasco were designed by BNSF employees and can carry 30,000 gallons of water. "Each train can take firefighters to hard-to-reach hot spots, carries 30,000 gallons of water and uses hoses to shoot water up to 30 feet away." [Surely they mean 300' instead of 30'. My garden hose can do 30'.] BNSF's web page [This also claims a range of just 30'] |
Andy Freepons posted nine photos with the comment: "Don’t think they will be running anything across the bridge anytime soon. Gibbon Rd Prosser, WA"
BNSF Grainger Sub
[It sounds like this may have been a victim of wildfires. A news report mentioned that they are in the area of Prosser, WA, and that a home was lost.]
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From TrainOrders:
Date: 11/18/09 12:55
Re: Washington Central Railroad Company
Author: stampedej
Re: Washington Central Railroad Company
Author: stampedej
signalmaintainer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pacific_Division Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Washington Central is part of BNSF. Whan they
> > bought back the stampedee line they also bought
> > Washington Central RR. Mr Temple then
> re-orginized
> > the remander of his RR into the Columbia Basin.
> > BNSF even uses ones of the SW12's at Interbay
> > (Seattle) Roundhouse to this day still in full
> > Washington Central paint.
> > KEvin
>
> I think it's curious to say that WCRC "is part of
> BNSF." An interesting point of view. BNSF
> reacquired the former BN Yakima Valley and
> Stampede Pass lines (the latter which WCRC
> operated up to Cle Elum) from WCRC; WCRC had
> acquired them from BN in late 1987 (as well as
> some trackage in the Moses Lake area and some
> branchlines in the Yakima area).
>
> The paint scheme and "bird" logo on Freckles (the
> Interbay shop goat) is actually one that CEECO
> applied to several EMD SWs and two Geeps before
> subsequently leasing them to WCRC. WCRC put its
> name on the units. The bird, contrary to popular
> opinion, is not a seahawk, but a toucan. Why a
> toucan? Beats me.
Actually, the Washington Central became a wholly owned subsidiary of the BNSF in December 1996. By merging the two companies, there were certain tax advantages vs. an outright purchase. Nick Temple essentially retired at this point in time. In December 1996, the Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRW) came into being. Nick Temple's son Brig still runs this operation which is based out of Warden, WA and serves Moses Lake, Othello, Wheeler and interchanges cars with the BNSF at Connell, WA. Ownership of the old Milwaukee line between Othello and Warden was (and may still be) controlled by the BNSF and leased to the CBRW. This was done just in case the old Milwaukee line should ever be reactivated between Lind, WA and Ellensburg, WA. Hopes of such a venture are quite dim --especially considering the fact that Stampede Pass is currently shut down. In January 2005, the BNSF decided to spin off the rest of the Yakima Valley branch lines. Brig Temple was the successful bidder and created the 'Central Washington Railroad' (CWA). The CWA now operates the Granger branch line which runs from Gibbon, WA to Zillah, WA (Zillah is on a dormant section of the old U.P. Yakima branch). Other CWA lines include the Moxee City branch, the White Swan branch (formerly Toppenish Simcoe & Western -TWSR) and what's left of the Naches branch. CWA also switches the former U.P. trackage in Yakima and Union Gap. The entire operation --both the CBRW and CWA-- is controlled out the Temple office complex in Yakima, WA. Note that all U.P. trackage in the Yakima Valley is actually still owned by the Union Pacific with service being provided under a haulage agreement that has been in place since the U.P. pulled out the Yakima Valley in 1992. Traffic is definitely not what it once was in the Yakima Valley. Oddly enough, traffic probably peaked in the late 1990's under the BNSF. The WCRC name still rubs certain BN employees the wrong way. However, it is actually the BN management of the 1980's they should blame. BN management of the 1980's was more interested in exploiting the land and resource aspects of the BN property and had little interest in running a railroad. It was really only under Rob Krebs that an interest in the railroad reappeared. With Stampede Pass shut down, questions come up about the BNSF selling off the entire line again. PROBABLY not. In closing, the WCRC was certainly an interesting little railroad that truly brought customer service back into a business that frequently turns its back on its customers.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pacific_Division Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Washington Central is part of BNSF. Whan they
> > bought back the stampedee line they also bought
> > Washington Central RR. Mr Temple then
> re-orginized
> > the remander of his RR into the Columbia Basin.
> > BNSF even uses ones of the SW12's at Interbay
> > (Seattle) Roundhouse to this day still in full
> > Washington Central paint.
> > KEvin
>
> I think it's curious to say that WCRC "is part of
> BNSF." An interesting point of view. BNSF
> reacquired the former BN Yakima Valley and
> Stampede Pass lines (the latter which WCRC
> operated up to Cle Elum) from WCRC; WCRC had
> acquired them from BN in late 1987 (as well as
> some trackage in the Moses Lake area and some
> branchlines in the Yakima area).
>
> The paint scheme and "bird" logo on Freckles (the
> Interbay shop goat) is actually one that CEECO
> applied to several EMD SWs and two Geeps before
> subsequently leasing them to WCRC. WCRC put its
> name on the units. The bird, contrary to popular
> opinion, is not a seahawk, but a toucan. Why a
> toucan? Beats me.
Actually, the Washington Central became a wholly owned subsidiary of the BNSF in December 1996. By merging the two companies, there were certain tax advantages vs. an outright purchase. Nick Temple essentially retired at this point in time. In December 1996, the Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRW) came into being. Nick Temple's son Brig still runs this operation which is based out of Warden, WA and serves Moses Lake, Othello, Wheeler and interchanges cars with the BNSF at Connell, WA. Ownership of the old Milwaukee line between Othello and Warden was (and may still be) controlled by the BNSF and leased to the CBRW. This was done just in case the old Milwaukee line should ever be reactivated between Lind, WA and Ellensburg, WA. Hopes of such a venture are quite dim --especially considering the fact that Stampede Pass is currently shut down. In January 2005, the BNSF decided to spin off the rest of the Yakima Valley branch lines. Brig Temple was the successful bidder and created the 'Central Washington Railroad' (CWA). The CWA now operates the Granger branch line which runs from Gibbon, WA to Zillah, WA (Zillah is on a dormant section of the old U.P. Yakima branch). Other CWA lines include the Moxee City branch, the White Swan branch (formerly Toppenish Simcoe & Western -TWSR) and what's left of the Naches branch. CWA also switches the former U.P. trackage in Yakima and Union Gap. The entire operation --both the CBRW and CWA-- is controlled out the Temple office complex in Yakima, WA. Note that all U.P. trackage in the Yakima Valley is actually still owned by the Union Pacific with service being provided under a haulage agreement that has been in place since the U.P. pulled out the Yakima Valley in 1992. Traffic is definitely not what it once was in the Yakima Valley. Oddly enough, traffic probably peaked in the late 1990's under the BNSF. The WCRC name still rubs certain BN employees the wrong way. However, it is actually the BN management of the 1980's they should blame. BN management of the 1980's was more interested in exploiting the land and resource aspects of the BN property and had little interest in running a railroad. It was really only under Rob Krebs that an interest in the railroad reappeared. With Stampede Pass shut down, questions come up about the BNSF selling off the entire line again. PROBABLY not. In closing, the WCRC was certainly an interesting little railroad that truly brought customer service back into a business that frequently turns its back on its customers.
Joe Fehr comment on a post: "Current estimate is 4-5 months before repairs are finished."
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| safe_image for Washington State requesting emergency/disaster declaration for rail bridge over Yakima River |
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| safe_image for Flaming railroad trestle west of Tri-Cities burns and collapses, Brian Stott photo A wooden railroad trestle at Whitstran, WA between Prosser and Benton City burned and collapsed in a Labor Day fire along the Old Inland Empire highway. [A video includes the collapse.] SteelerDoug Kroll: Old news again. Saw it on TV and will not be replaced. |
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| RT&S has more photos Clay Harwood posted Andy Freepons: The structure has since been rebuilt and rail service resumed |
Is talking about how far that water sprays not how long the hose is... Just so you know
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