RMD-4, various detailing gangs at work

[Phil C]

amazing work !

[landnrailroader]

Colleagues,

The Milwaukee Road's Pacific Extension was built in a different manner than the NP and GN which penetrated the same general area 15 or more years earlier. Because these railroads already existed, it was possible to bring in materials by rail in large quantities and rather than work from a single, or perhaps 2 or 3 railheads, as many as 100 different contractors were at work at any given time, and grading, bridge building etc. went on pretty much continously over the entire length of the line. The only temporary line built was that over Snoqualmie Pass which was used until 1920 when the tunnel was completed.

In like manner we have two gangs hard at work on the RMD-4. One is busy painting the textures in the cuts to "Look like Rock" and the other is busy planting trees by the gozillion so that the landscape will not be too naked. Yet a third gang has completed the snowsheds and just completed the substation at E.Portal and is busy constructing - well selecting - suitable bungalows to place there.

Imagine ourselves having a sleek streamliner to ride on an inspection of this work in progress. Tonight, we will start west of Saltese and end a mile or so west of Dominion Creek Tunnel #19 (numbered from Chicago).

J. H. Sullivan

[rpicardi1]

I was through that area in 66 on the way to the Yakama firing range. You should see how the old irrigation viaducts snaked their way along the side of the valley going East of the pass towards the high deserts to irrigate the apple orchards and other crops.

Pic in April 66 at Snoqualmie Pass. Note the deep snow.

SRV Ron