It had been four-and-a-half years since Elizabeth was last at the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway in Surrey, British Columbia. She has remained a Director on the Board and has the Communications portfolio. There have been several large changes since the beginning of 2023 and since Elizabeth will be representing the Society at the Heritage Rail Alliance conference in September, we decided to visit the group. There were several other attractions that made sense to visit and it would also be an opportunity for me to see various places that Elizabeth has wanted to show me for some time.
We planned a route that would take us through Kansas, Colorado, to Pocatello, Idaho, where my brother used to live, into eastern Oregon then upinto Washington, where a stop at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish would occur. Cle Elum, Washington, the site of a Milwaukee Road substation, depot and locomotive, was a definite stop, then up to Skykomish to ride the Great Northern and Cascade Live Steamers. Link Light Rail in the Seattle Area has had one extension and a new line open since 2020, and we bought tickets to ride a portion of the Amtrak Cascades route to include the non-Point Defiance line.
We decided to take the Coho Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, see a few specific items in the area, including the Canadian Pacific Railway Roundhouse, then visit the Duncan Forest Museum, Kinsol Trestle, make the trip over to Port Alberni and back to Nanaimo to take the BC Ferry to Horseshoe Bay. July 27th would be spent at Fraser Valley Heritage Railway then the two of us would start heading east, stopping at Nelson for the Nelson Electric Tramway and over to Cranbrook Railway Museum.
Back in the United States, we planned to visit to Inland Northwest Rail Museum in Reardan, Washington and the Northern Pacific Railway depot in Wallace before making our way to Deer Lodge, Montana and of course, many stations throughout the southern part of the state over to Nebraska and finally home.
The Start of the JourneyElizabeth and I arose and after a good breakfast, did our Internet duties then finished packing and left the house. Elizabeth drove us through the rain on Interstate 70 to the Lawrence Service area in Kansas on the toll road. I then drove west on Interstate 70 to US Highway 24 to our first depot of the day.
Union Pacific center cupola caboose 25649 built by International Car in 1967.
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Clay Center station is the Chamber of Commerce and was built in 1921.
Clay Center information display board. Next I drove us to Concordia.
Union Pacific Concordia station is now the National Orphan Train Museum built in 1917. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children were transported to rural communities across the country in hopes of providing a better life for them.
The orphan train movement was started by Charles Loring Brace and his organization, the Children’s Aid Society. Brace recognized the inadequacy of New York’s welfare institutions, and, at the same time, saw the Western states as places full of opportunity. He devised a system whereby disadvantaged children would be sent to rural communities, traveling by train and with a Society Agent, where they could be taken in by families who would teach them good morals and provide for their needs.
Other organizations quickly adopted Brace’s system, and for nearly 80 years, children migrated across the country to find new homes. Finally, in 1929, amidst growing objections and changing welfare systems, the orphan train movement came to an end.
Santa Fe Concordia station built in 1887.
Missouri Pacific Concordia station rebuilt in 1913.
Santa Fe Concordia freight house used by Kyle Railroad. We next drove to Belleville.
Union Pacific Belleville station builder and year unknown. We made our way to Courtland.
Santa Fe Courtland station built in 1885 now the Depot Market. In the 1880’s, two train stations were built in Courtland, one on the main line of the Rock Island and the other on the Sante Fe. In 1918, sparks from a burning livery stable blew across town, ignited the roof, and destroyed the Rock Island Depot which was located where CVA is today. A boxcar was used as a depot temporarily until sometime in 1919 when the Sante Fe depot was cut in half and moved two blocks south to the junction of the Rock Island and Santa Fe. A twenty-foot section was added to the middle of this building to facilitate the commerce of both rail lines.
For many years, the depot employed a telegraph operator, depot agent, and clerk. Additionally, a switchboard operator worked outside. As many as 20 trains a day came through on the Rock Island, including the Rocket (Chicago to Denver) and five trains daily on the Santa Fe.
Elizabeth would have bought some fram fresh vegatables if we had been on the way home, rather than starting the trip. Next I drove us to Superior, Nebraska.
The Welcome to Nebraska sign.
Chicago and North Western station used by the Santa Fe built in 1965. We put petrol into our car then drove to 6th Street.
Missouri Pacific from Warwick, Kansas. We ate dinner at the Velet Rose and I enjoyed chicken fried steak and Elizabeth had Salisbury steak, both of which were excellent. She then drove the rest of the way to Phillipsburg and we checked into the Cottonwood Inn for night.
7/17/2024 Elizabeth and I arose and I did our regular morning routine. After Elizabeth checked us out, we went to The Flour Shop at Third Street Bakery where we both enjoyed French toast but mine came with bacon. We drove about an hour and seven minutes to the first station of the day and met the caretaker who took us throughout the depot.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Oberlin station built in 1885.
Exculsive Colorado Division poster.
The station master's desk.
The agent's desk.
The ticket window.
The other side of the ticket window.
An old wagon.
Before that the old baggage cart.
A banner before three of all climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Some model buildings on the second floor before we finished the tour on the first floor.
The Railway Express Agency symbol.
The CB&Q Depot sign in the lower window. From here we drove Interstate 70 33 minutes to Atwood.
Chicago Burlington and Quincy Atwood station.
Burlington Northern caboose 10405, nee Chicago Burlington and Quincy, built by the railroad in 1954.
With a change in plans, I drove us west to Linden where we switched drivers and Elizabeth drove west on Interstate 70, through an accident and through the Einshower Tunnel, down the grade to Colorado 9 to US 40. After one road construction project and then some lane painting, we switched drivers and I drove to Jimmy Johns in Steamboat Springs where I had a roast beef sandwich and Elizabeth had a turkey sandwich. She then drove us to Craig and the Quailty Inn for this night.
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