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St. Maries River Railroad to run excursions in 2013
Tell me when. One of ny greatest pleasures as a kid was seeing Milw trains struggling up the mainline – and I mean up – to the Plummer junction with the UP branch to the Panhandle mines and the UP Tekoa branch to Spokane. Dates, please.
As a kid I was fortunate enought to ride the NP, GN and SP&S, but unfortunately I never had the opportunity to ride the Hiawatha. A shame too, since my grandfather was a switch engine engineer for the CMStP&P in the Tacoma, WA yard, where he retired in about 1960 (hard to remember for certain what year, as I was born in 1955). I live only about an hour and a half from St. Maries though, so will be checking into this come springtime. Too bad the trackage East from St. Maries is no longer there. That’s some awesome country up the St. Joe River to Avery and beyond.
As a kid I was fortunate enought to ride the NP, GN and SP&S, but unfortunately I never had the opportunity to ride the Hiawatha. A shame too, since my grandfather was a switch engine engineer for the CMStP&P in the Tacoma, WA yard, where he retired in about 1960 (hard to remember for certain what year, as I was born in 1955). I live only about an hour and a half from St. Maries though, so will be checking into this come springtime. Too bad the trackage East from St. Maries is no longer there. That’s some awesome country up the St. Joe River to Avery and beyond.
“There isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, no matter where it’s going.” What a windfall for Northwest train lovers, and especially Milwaukee freaks like me! Can’t wait to see this one get underway. Nice going, St. Maries!
Checked the Union Pacific route map and I don’t see a UP rail line through Plummer.
Stewart from Kentucky: Plummer, ID, is in northern Idaho, south of Spokane. Just NE from the town is a Wye, which was on the Milwaukee RR. The “north” leg of the wye meanders up to Spokane, and was used by the Union Pacific to interchange with the Milwaukee. About 15 years ago, during one of my journeys exploring the junction and St. Maries, a Union Pacific short train arrived at the junction from the North. I’d have to review my photos to recall what rolling stock was attached. A look at Plummer ID on Google Earth shows the Wye clearly. Obviously the Milwaukee line heading West ends at Plummer. The roadbed continues west through a tunnel under highway 95.
Just might be the first reason I’ve ever had to go to Idaho. LOL
What a treat that will be to see that line operating again. I had the opportunity to ride that line with a organized and authorized track car trip. I look forward to hopefully riding this train when it becomes reality.
Grand news! Good job to all involved. See you this spring. That view from Peedee viaduct is awesome.
Grand news! Good job to all involved. See you this spring. That view from Peedee viaduct is awesome.
Sounds like they have a decent approach, and working with the local chamber/tourism folks will help with the marketing. Someone there should look at Iowa Pacific’s Saratoga & North Creek operation on the old D&H line to North Creek. They are going gangbusters up there. Put together an attractive package, sell it well, and they will come.
This will be (at least for train lovers) the best thing to hit this area since the last time 844 came to Spokane! (Expo 74, I think). Anyway, I hope they are sucessful beyond belief. I know that I will make every effort to go and ride the train, repeatedly.