In the steam era did Great Northern freight steam locomotives ran on the Spokane, Portland and Seattle with trackage rights.
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Can’t confirm anything but I’d imagine it happened because GN was half owner of the SP&S along with the NP.
Can’t confirm anything but I’d imagine it happened because GN was half owner of the SP&S along with the NP.
In the steam era, carriers rarely exchanged power, even among carriers partly owned by another carrier. Carriers tended to specialize their power for the geographical constraints of their own territories.
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So GN steam locomotives never ran on the SP&S at all, only SP&S steam locomotives are allowed to operate there.
Never say never but definitely not on a regular basis.
One other thing to remember about the steam era.
The carriers had to maintain their own engines, that WERE NOT STANDARDIZED for anything except the gauge they operate upon. If a engine operated outside of its normal service area (even on the same carrier) the out of area repair points did not stock the ‘consumable’ parts necessary to keep the engines in sustained operation.
With diesels being standardized to the extent they are, they can operate everywhere and be repairable on any carrier for routine wear items and services…
We answered your question. There weren’t run-through freights back then, for another reason.
What steam engines would have pulled a GN train from Spokane to Bieber over the Inside Gateway ?
In the steam era, it was unusual for freight trains to operate beyond the yards that had crew changes. Freight trains were moved from Crew Change A to Crew Change B with specific power and caboose, At B a new crew with new power and a new caboose would take charge of the train after it had be switched, added to or set off from and take it to Crew Change C and so on and so forth.
Steam was nominally operated through a full load of fuel (coal or oil) with multiple water stops along the way. After that run the engine would need servicing with the grates cleaned and other services to the fire and other mechanical inspections and repairs…
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GN’s trackage on the Inside Gateway only extended from Bend OR to Bieber CA (about 235 miles). Some of the route was on SP trackage rights (Chemult ↔ Klamath Falls). SP&S handled GN trains from Spokane to Wishram WA. The SP&S/Union Pacific jointly owned Oregon Trunk handled the trains south to Bend. The GN handled trains to Bieber. then handed them off to Western Pacific.
In the diesel era GN, SP&S and WP pooled power on Inside Gateway trains even before the BN merger.
Does the UP still run any trains on the Oregon Trunk?