The story of the Iron Goat began over 100 years ago when a crossing was needed through the Cascades at Stevens Pass which helped open the Pacific Northwest to settlement and trade. The original route over the pass consisted of a set of switchbacks cut into the mountainside. The switchbacks were an engineering triumph but they had serious disadvantages. The old Cascade Tunnel, completed in 1900, bypassed the switchbacks. Several snowsheds were added for safety. Trains were often stopped for days in winter storms.
In 1910, snowslides delayed two trains at the town of Wellington just a short distance from a tunnel. An avalanchbe crashed down, sweeping both trains off the tracks into the river. Nearly 100 lives were lost. After this tragedy, the tunnel was removed and a snowshed was installed.
As rail traffic increased, a new Cascade tunnel was completed in 1929. This eight-mile tunnel is still in use today by the BNSF.
All Concrete Snowshed - two track. This is the spot of the 1910 disaster.
View of Snowshed from the freeway
Concrete back wall of snowshed - the top and front was made of lumber.
No comments:
Post a Comment