Railroads Near Iron Mountain, WA

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Does anyone know about any railroads going up in the Iron mountain area near Mount Vernon. There is a “old railroad grade” marked on a geologic map and I was wondering if anyone knows what the railroad was called and if it was just a logging railroad or if it serviced the iron mines in the area. Iron mountain is 15 miles East of Mount Vernon between Cumberland and Presentine Creek.

Thanks

2

There is a good book called the “Logging Railroads in Skagit County” by Dennis Blake Thompson that covers that area. It has some pretty good maps. I’d suggest a trip to your local library, and if they don’t have it, have them get it for you via interlibrary loan. Or better yet, you may want to purchase a copy.

From your discription it looks like either the Puget Sound Pulp & Timber Company line or Clear Lake Lumber Company line (Kinney Creek Unit). Also, if its the abandon grade close to the Skagit River than it probably was the Puget Sound & Cascade Railway.

Gosh, ghost railfanning in timber country is lots of fun, wish I was there. Is that Skagit Steel and Iron Works small plant switcher still on site in Sedro Woolley?

Hope this helps.

JIm

3

Here is a photo of Skagit’s critter. I think they call it model ZM10.

4

Thanks for the help Jim. I do have that book, but I never even thought to look in it. Stupid me! I will have to go find it and look through it. I don’t know if switcher is still in Sedro-Woolley. I have never seen it there but it might be hidden out of the way somewhere. I do know that Puget Sound & Baker River RY #2 is still at the intersection where you turn to go into town. It is in pretty good shape and there is a log car and Great Northern caboose on display with it. I will post some pictures of it if they ever get accepted on railpictures.

5

Yes, that happens to me too from time to time. It was kind-of-fun, when you mentioned Mount Vernon I got the book down, between the book and toposerve was able to put it together.

I have only been up there once and that was during one of the Northwest Logging Modelers convention, which was a real hoot. Enjoyed the area and taking in the sites.
We took in a donkey steam up at a park outside of Lyndon WA, BTW there is a bakery in Lyndon that is just great!

Could have spent weeks there instead of just the 5 days. I have two better pics of that Skagit critter, but I gave them to a friend who is into that stuff. Maybe I’ll have to dig out the negs and make a couple of prints.

Take Care,

Jim