New Track Being Installed in Palouse

Don Somers thought it might be a first for the WI&M --concrete ties instead of wood. As Don and Jack Coyner headed to Farmington today to look at the caboose, they went via Palouse. The town is doing a street improvement project where the railroad passes by, and as part of the improvement, a concrete bed is being put down on Whitman Street. Don has supplied some photos to show the changes.

As for the caboose, Doug Wasankari went along to Gene and Connie Rambo's to see what strategy he might use to get the car moved. It is quite possible that the caboose might be here in time for speeders on July 12. This is a genuine WI&M caboose so it belongs with the depot!

The Caboose Arrives Next

Gene Rambo wheeled into town early yesterday with a load of "seasoned" trucks, signaling that the arrival of the WI&M caboose is at hand. Gene and Connie have owned the historic caboose for years, with Connie and her mom, Alma Hay, and other family members using it as a ceramics workshop. "We've had loads and loads of fun in that caboose," said Connie of the old-timer that had once plied the WI&M line. As the caboose weathered and family members gave up ceramics, Gene wondered about the caboose's future. He'd put a tin roof on part of it to keep weather out, but through the years, the little car has shown decline. Thanks to Gene and Connie's generosity, however, the caboose will take up new digs in front of the depot in Potlatch. In time, the WIMHPG hopes to repair and restore the caboose and put it to use.

As for the delivery of the heavy trucks yesterday, the HPG thanks Gene for transporting them to Potlatch, and Jim Larson for unloading them with his self-loader. Jim did a precision job of placing them on the tracks, and also placing a track section further down from the depot. Jim and Gene both show that the HPG depends on the generosity of others to keep moving ahead with preserving WI&M Railway history!

Pictured in the photos are Gene Rambo, Don Somers and Jack in front of the rusty trucks before they were unloaded, and Jim Larson doing the heavy lifting to get the trucks unloaded.

US Bank steps in to help Depot

A big thank you to Caryn Brown of US Bank! She has created a catchy train-themed quilt with companion wall hanging as part of US Bank's commitment to having its employees active in various community projects. The quilt and wall hanging will be raffled off in a drawing during Potlatch Days July 19 and all proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Depot. Tickets are on sale at the Potlatch branch of US Bank and will also be available during the speeder weekend July 13. The quilt is on display at the bank and tickets are $1 apiece or 6 for $5. Don't be bashful about snapping up your tickets soon. The goal for the employees is $1000! Let's help them get there by supporting this project.

Kenny Cada, long a Depot supporter (her in-laws Joe and Dorothy Cada spent their early married life as tenants in the Depot apartments), dreamed up the volunteer activity. As branch manager at Potlatch, she was aware that the US Bank CEO was making 8 hours of paid volunteer time per year available to each employee to work on a community project of the employee's choice. Caryn, an avid quilter, said yes to the quilt idea and fellow employee Carol Cooley found the train fabric. Caryn put the custom look together, spending way more than the 8 hours of allotted volunteer time. Other bank employees will help put up displays for History Day at the Depot.

We thank our friends at US Bank for their commitment to the Depot. They have been solid supporters!

Pictured in photo, left to right, Kenny Cada, Caryn Brown, Carol Cooley and Michelle French

Southern Pacific locomotive pulls full load today

Stan Patterson called today to say that the F-unit was pulling 15 cars -- that's right, 15 -- out of Bennett Lumber about 1 pm. How long since we've seen a train that long come past the depot? And behind that beautiful Southern Pacific locomotive, no less. Of course we gave chase and wound up in Palouse, watching the train wind along the river and into town. It's interesting to hear how many people are watching the trains along the route. They love that "new" locomotive, part of a nostalgic era for sure.

Canadian Train Buffs Visit Depot

(Pictured Above: W&I train picking up Bennett cars along Palouse River; Ken Storey, left, and Nils Huxtable perch above the river to get a good shot of the train; Nils Huxtable with his book on the Daylight)

Brian Magelky, President of the Latah County Historical Society, toured the depot today and came away thinking Potlatch might just be the place to launch the Society's new exhibit on railroads next year. He was especially taken by the freight room, which he thought would make an ideal setting for old railroad history. As an HPG member, Brian also thought the speeders would be a great enhancement for the depot exhibit.

Just as Brian left, opportunity knocked again as Stan Patterson and Jeremy Leiterman came through to pick up four cars loaded with Bennett lumber. They stopped to shift more storage cars before hauling the Bennett load, and that's when a red car showed up with British Columbia license plates. Ready with their cameras, rail buffs Nils Huxtable and Ken Storey recounted that they'd come from Vancouver BC to track a special Union Pacific passenger train heading from Spokane to Hooper and on to Portland. The train was carrying several dignitaries, among them the VP of the UP.

Turns out that Nils publishes train books under the trade name Steamscenes, based in West Vancouver, while Ken works for the Vancouver Sun. Talk about train nuts, these guys could recite details of trains from all over the world, because they've been all over the world, checking out steam engines, famous train routes and the like. They were both especially pleased with the Washington and Idaho Railway's new F unit, which is still wearing its Southern Pacific colors (the Southern Pacific is Nil's favorite). The depot restoration also got rave reviews from these two experts. When Nils just happened to have his book on the Daylight in the car, well, he made a quick sale on that one. A beautiful book!

As Stan and Jeremy made their way along the Palouse River to pick up the waiting Bennett cars, Nils and Ken showed their sidetracking expertise, scrambling down a steep bank to photograph the train as it headed back toward town. How ironic that once this very same section of track provided a backdrop for trains hauling dozens of log cars out of timber country. Today's locomotive pulled only four cars and of course there was no caboose.

As the sun continued to shine all day, it seemed a perfect day to track trains. Just too bad that we didn't have a heads-up on the UP special headed to Portland. From Ken's report and photo, it must've been a good show!

Annual Meeting for HPG

The Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway History Preservation Group Board of Directors met at Potlatch City Hall on March 15, 2008, after a tour of the depot. With most of the exterior work completed on the building, HPG members turned their attention to how to move ahead with developing the interiors. There was talk of applying for more grants, working with the Potlatch Historical Society and moving cautiously toward getting the community into the building for events.

Pictured in front of the depot, left to right: Don Somer's, President, Jim West, Tom Burg, Carl Sonner, Tom Hillebrant, Lance Gallagher, Ken Vogel, Hal Van de Vord, Jack Coyner.

Snow and More Snow

The Palouse has been clobbered with record-breaking snowstorms, presenting quite a contrast to the depot's fresh red paint. As of Super Bowl Sunday, the area has been hit with several feet of snow, shutting down many roads. For the first time in over a decade, both the University of Idaho and Washington State University cancelled classes last week. More snow is predicted later today.