Large Scale Central

Columbia and Red Moutain Railway

Prototypes
#1

So doing a bit of research on my book and my guy D.C. Corbin was involved after he sold my RR in a new project from Spokane to the mines of Rossland B.C. The road from SpokaneWA to Northport WA was called the Spokane Falls & Northern. When he finally got permission to enter Canada he incorporated the Columbia & Red Mountain Railway (the Red Mountain Road or Railway). Its sole purpose was to steal ore traffic away from the Canadian Pacific. Both Railroads reached the area and eventually both served it. The SF&N and C&RM were sold to Great Northern.

At any rate as I was doing my research I came across this map someone drew of the tracks in Rossland. For those that don’t know Rossland it is a tiny town built on the side of Red Mountain. Not really a place for a train but they did it. This was standard gauge. Anyway in looking at the map this would be a fun layout and could serve as a point to point or a loop. Both sets of tracks GN and CP could be looped together. I have included the link to the place where I stole the map which is a little three page write up on it that also has a picture of the crazy tracks.

http://heritagerossland.com/Portals/0/revised2-Red%20Mountain%20Railway%20Bed.pdf

#2

The line that began as the Spokane Falls & Northern, now BNSF, runs about a mile from my home. It has two trains a day, seven days a week, to and from Canada, hauling mostly finished wood products. I can usually hear the locomotives, usually several GP 40’s whistling the crossing, about 0930, and 2100.

Interestingly, there was a short lived logging railroad, standard gauge, that joined the SF&N at Deer Park called the Deer Park Central RR, that fed the two mills, here in beautiful Deer Park, Wa. If you look closely, you can see the grade for the DPC on a satellite photo, as the grade leaves BNSF, but, for the life of me, I can’t find it on the ground.

#3

Gee, with a Wye at both ends of town, it could be a decent model railroad for those who don’t roundy roundy.

#4

It appears that there is a wye at each end of town. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

#5

Steve Featherkile said:

The line that began as the Spokane Falls & Northern, now BNSF, runs about a mile from my home. It has two trains a day, seven days a week, to and from Canada, hauling mostly finished wood products. I can usually hear the locomotives, usually several GP 40’s whistling the crossing, about 0930, and 2100.

Interestingly, there was a short lived logging railroad, standard gauge, that joined the SF&N at Deer Park called the Deer Park Central RR, that fed the two mills, here in beautiful Deer Park, Wa. If you look closely, you can see the grade for the DPC on a satellite photo, as the grade leaves BNSF, but, for the life of me, I can’t find it on the ground.

Hey Steve how far do the old SF&N tracks still go… do they still reach Northport. I thought they go tore up at least in Canada but do they still serve to the border?

#6

David Maynard said:

Gee, with a Wye at both ends of town, it could be a decent model railroad for those who don’t roundy roundy.

That’s what I was thinking and there is plenty of switching opportunity. And it is packed into a relatively small area.

If you look at the brochure I posted the link to and then at the picture of the trestles that section of track is that portion on the map in inset. Nevertheless it is an interesting piece of track work.

#7

I am trying to figure out what this piece of track work would be for. The lower left is the Great Northern tracks and the upper right is the CP. so this is some sort of inter tie but makes no sense to me. Suggestions?

#8

Well the tracks still run over the border and stop just north of the border before reaching Trail. Now it looks like the rest is a highway. There is a branch that heads to Salmo also that is still active and heads to Nelson. Now in addition to the SF&N and the Spur to Rossland (The Columbia and Red Mountain which I read is tore up and now is part Highway which makes sense) Corbin also incorporated the Nelson & Fort Shepherd which connected to the SF&N. So this line I am seeing that splits north of the boarder must be the Nelson line. Glad I looked it makes sense now.

#9

This map from 2001 shows the former SN & N continuing into Canada and connecting with one of their major railroads.

#10

Its well known around here that the southbound trains originate in Canada.

#11

Steve,

The local that you see is the Chewelah Turn. I think they go on duty at 1800 in Spokane, and run up to the interchange with Kettle Falls RR in Chewelah. As you said lots of Canadian forest products. The normal power lately has been two GP40’s and a bunch of B units. Anywhere from 4-6 B units in the consist every night! Never worked out of Spokane, but I’ve driven through Deer Park and Chewelah on my way to ski up at 49 Degree’s North! Got to love the week of free skiing every year.

http://omnitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/KFR-brochure.pdf

Here’s a photo off the Pacific Northwest Railfans page on Facebook with the Chewelah Turn. I’d have to look at my old timetables, but the subdivision must have a 4 axle power limit over a bridge or two…

#12

Yeah that sounds about right. You see those b unit consists a lot up there

As for that map it shows a connection to CP which is Right

#13

Kettle Falls International Railway

Chasing the Kettle Falls International Railway

KFI Motive Power

More KFI Power

Ferry County Rail History

#14

Hey Steve, thanks for the links on KFR. So in looking at their map it makes more sense. The line to Columbia Gardens was the one I followed. That would be the old Nelson and Fort Shepherd when it leaves out of Northport which was all part of the SF&N. There it would have continued on to Nelson through Fruitvale or Fruitville whatever its called. There are still tracks going that way so I wonder if this is now CP since KFR only goes to Columbia Gardens. I got to looking closer and the Red Mountain Railway crossed the river at Northport and headed to Rossland that way and never went to Trail. These tracks are all gone.

No what I am wondering is the western line of the KFR What was that originally. In all i read nothing was mentioned of a line that direction. This must have been built after the GN takeover of the SF&N. Nothing I read about Corbin and the SF&N said anything about a line going that direction up the Kettle River.

#15

Found it. It was after GN took over. It was the Kettle Falls Branch of the GN.

http://gnflyer.com/Kettle%20Falls.html