Into Dust
The rails themselves reflect the electrified service of the Resourceful Railroad across the Cascade Range. Though the overhead catenary and lineside poles are gone, the rails hold a key signature from this effort: they are forever electrically tied together with thick metal wiring at the rail joints. This served to create a continuous ground, or return loop, for the electrical motors that drove the BiPolars and Boxcabs out across this desolate landscape.
Along this old line, a Milwaukee style cross-buck guards the right of way. It represents an unmistakable older-style that still stands, alerting traffic to trains that will no longer pass. Type-R block signals still dot the right of way here as well, though many have become subjects of target practice. These were placed early in the life of this line and represented some of the first signals with improved lenses for long-distance viewing. They now stand with a vacant and haunted look, well suited for the land and the rails that still pass through. It's a dusty and lonely part of the Resourceful Railroad, but the memories are nearer the surface here than many other places.
The wind blows sand and dirt out here as the sage brush rustles along the rusty rail. These are mere shadows of what came before: a sea of grays and browns along a line that knew bright orange and crimson. It's easy to see the "dust to dust" on this mainline to the Northwest Coast, haunted by all of these marks of past glory.
Comments
Dan
I wonder who owns these old abandoned 112 pound per foot rails these days. With the economic situation as it is these days, I bet some salvagers would eye this steel.
When Soo Line bought out the Milwaukee back in 1985, did it include the remnants of the Lines West as well? Does Canadian Pacific now own these rails and ties since they bought out the Soo Line stockholders in 1991?
On another note, during my travels home to west central Minnesota, I sometimes drive the scenic route from Ortonville through Wheaton. Of course, one can see the remnants of the old branch line to Fargo and Wheaton, Minnesota along U.S. Highway 75. This was the old Fargo and Southern Railroad that was brought out by the Milwaukee.
I listed below a nice hyperlink to a nice picture of the Milwaukee Road depot at Fargo, North Dakota. No doubt the Milwaukee interchanged probably a wee bit with the NP and GN back in the day.
http://www.fargo-history.com/transportation/fargo-southern-rr.htm
There is a slide or two (as he mentioned) but in general, things are still in place.
Best,
-Leland
Dan
A beautiful shot, a perfect black and white. Can you please tell me how to find this location?
Atticus
atticus.maximus98@gmail.com