If you have some time on your hands watch these great You-Tube videos. These are really old films of the GN in Washington state. My friend, Gus, forwarded them to me from one of his friends…
THE CASCADE DIVISION–A Young Operator Remembers
This is a collection of shaky but interesting home movies taken between 1957 and 1971, during and after my dad’s employment on the GN, with authentic RR communications from that period. It is divided up into four parts, with links as follows:
This is probably the last GN video you will ever see, unless something else turns up in someone’s attic someday. Be sure to click the HQ button at bottom right for a slightly less fuzzy picture.-- Tom Garrett
Absolutely WONDERFUL! Thanks so much for posting the link–it’s a great reminder of how utterly beautiful the ex-GN passage through the Cascades really is.
The videos are excellent. Great documentation of a now gone era. Today at Scenic there is nothing but the siding. The west portal of the Cascade Tunnel is just east of Scenic about 1/4 mile. Also at Scenic is the trailhead of the Iron Goat Trail and GN caboose X-294. The trail is well worth the nine mile hike.
It is still possible to go by train through the present Cascade Tunnel as Amtrak’s “Empire Builder” runs through it. Should you go by train do it in late June or early July so it will be light while the train is going through the area.
Both ends of the present day Cascade Tunnel are easily accessed. DO NOT ENTER the tunnel for any reason. There is no place to get out of the way should a train arrive.