Where was the Milwaukee Road’s Tideflats yard in Tacoma located?
What trains operated between Chicago and Tacoma/Seattle before the shutdown and what were the published schedules for these trains?Thanks.
Have a good one.
Bill B
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=47.26177&lon=-122.4102&s=100&size=l&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG
Here you go for Tide Flats.
Usually there was at least 3 freights eacy way - a Portland section, a Tacoma section and a Seattle section of trains 261-262 plus extras. My understanding is that, also, a “clean-up” was operated each way between Othello, WA and Avery, ID to collect the business between those points for forwarding. After Avery was closed as a crew-change point, I understand that all of these “clean-up” functions centered on Saint Maries, ID.
There is a Milwaukee Group on Yahoo – you can get all of your questions answered and then some by this group of ex MILW employees.
http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=Milwaukee+Road
Choice 1 is the group.
Thank you for the info,Eric.I belong to the group on yahoo and have posted the same question with no reply so far.I thought that was where the yard was,but wanted to know for sure.As for trains,I have a November 1969 Official Guide that shows 261,262,263,and 264’s scheduling from Chicago to Seattle and I know from reading messages on the MILW yahoo group that there were also 265 and 266,but have found no info on schedules(Disclaimer:Yes I know that all trains ran as extras,but they did have a theoretical schedule).Any more info?
Have a good one.
Bill B
After the BN Merger, Milwaukee’s premium traffic to and from the Pacific Northwest more than doubled, and by 1973, MILW was running #261C, #261TC, two sections of #262, and trains #263, 264, 265 and 266, and some of those ran in two sections as well on a more irregular basis. This stayed steady through the bankruptcy. Even as late as 1978, the PCE averaged 9 trains per day west of Miles City (representing a 14% decline in tonnage that year) – depending on weekends and light days, as many as 10-12 or as few as 6-8. East of Miles City, the PCE was carrying 12-16 trains per day.
Generally, the “hotshots” after the BN Merger were significantly heavier trains than their 1960s counterparts. Whereas #261 and #262 were 3,000 ton trains prior to 1970, by 1974, notwithstanding that they were now running in two secctions, they were routinely carrying 4,500 tons or more. Had they run under their original restrictions, 261 and 262 would have operated in three sections each, making 12-14 trains a day on a busy day West of Miles City, or 14-18 trains per day East of Miles City.
I would have to dig out some published ETT schedules, but my recollection is that only #261 and #262 had schedules – the rest ran as extras, although those “extras” followed a schedule as well, they just weren’t published.
I have a copy of MILW’s Train Designation System effective 1/1/76. It lists the following interdivisional time freights for the Washington Division.
200/201/202/203 between Tacoma and Bensenville (Chicago).
204/205 between Tacoma and St. Paul.
Somewhere I have a ett for that area after Avery was discontinued as a division point. Trains 200 and 201 had second class time table schedules at that time.
Jeff
Jeff,Did these replace the 260-series trains? Thanks for the info.
Have a good one.
Bill B
Here is what I got from the November 1969 Official Guide.
263 261 Station 262 264
300pm 230pm Chicago 545pm 545pm
545pm 430pm Milwaukee 230pm
230am 1110pm Twin Cities 600am 600am
330am 1140pm Twin Cities 415am 1000pm
230pm 705am Aberdeen 740pm 1130am
700am 1120am Marengo 340pm
630pm 800pm Seattle 1030pm 130am
800pm 900pm Tacoma 1030pm 130am
There are also trains 65 and 72 between Chicago and the Twin
Cities.63 and 64 shown either arriving or departing Spokane,but no
info on where they went or came from there.625 and 626 at
Duluth,same notation as 64/65.195/196 at Great Falls.162/163 at
Sioux Falls.7/8 at Sioux City.98/99 between Chicago and Minneapolis
(TOFC/COFC).166/167 at Rapid City.
Have a good one.
Bill B
If I am recalling the date correctly, the train numbers changed effective June 1, 1975. Train # 261 became Train #201, Train # 262 became Train #200, etc.
I believe they did. On the summary page it shows interdivisional trains 260/261 running between Sioux Falls and Bensenville, and 262/263 running between Madison and Bensenville.
Others are way more qualified as to why the system renumberings and if any trains kept their original numbers. The document does show some former numbers for trains, but not many.
Jeff
Thank you,Jeff and Michael for your replies.I look forward to learning more.
How detailed is document you have,Jeff? Would you be interested in making a copy of it for me,if it’s not too many pages,and I’ll reimburse you for the copying and shipping charges?
Have a good one.
Bill B