1953 cab ride across the Great Northern

1
1953 cab ride across the Great Northerns
electrified subdivision

• Westbound on train 5, the Cascade, in diesel
  251-A
• Eastbound on train 2, the Empire Builder, in
  motor 5019
• Pictures and captions by Alfred B Butler, Pullman
  WA
• collection of Bruce Butler
• PowerPoint presentation by Bruce Butler

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Summer 1953 cab ride across GNs electrified zone
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Original trip notes by Alfred B Butler - part 1
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Original trip notes by Alfred B Butler - part 2
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1.1 - No. 5 holds the Main at Monitor for a
meet with No. 6.
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1.2 - 1251 PM No. 6 shows up on time
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1.3 - Eastbound Cascadian growles slowly into
the passing track.
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1.4 - Diesel 251-A idles waiting for 6 to clear.
251-A doing 330 miles/day has run over 1,800,000
miles. 1350 hp each unit.
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1.5 -Engineer Al White notches back the throttle
with an eye on ammeter. 1000 amps. 250 and 251
are the oldest FTs on GN. 75 RPM per throttle
notch.
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1.6 - 5 cars trail 251. Friction 5 per ton.
Load 20 per ton on 1 grade.
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1.7 - Winton tunnel. Engineer got 4 deer last
night. 1.6 grade.
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1.8 - Rails Trolley reflect light from tunnel
opening. Tunnel on a curve. Pantograph apt to
bounce.
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1.9 - Length 4059.4 feet. Sound level high.
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1.10 - Flag stop at Winton. On time at 142 pm
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1.11 - A hand on the whistle rain on the
windshield.
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1.12 - new 1,000,000 alignment straightens track.
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1.13 - Mile post 1696.3 - high trestle tunnel.
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1.14 - Looking down from the trestle. 2.2 grade.
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1.15 - A mountain in the way. Short tunnel you
can see thru.
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1.16 - We crest the grade at Berne. Elevation
2883 ft. Cascade tunnel length 7.79 miles or
41,152 ft.
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1.17 - 204 pm. Drop 500 ft in 8 miles. 8 mi/hr
wind west to east through open tunnel. 34-36
applications of air from here to Skykomish.
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1.18 - 10 degree curve. Outside rail elevated
3-3/4 to allow 30 mph speed.
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1.19 - Slow order. Movement of bank. 15 mph.
GN Geologists are draining hillside. New rail
ready to install.
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1.20 - Looking back from Engineers side.
Acceleration coasting 12 mph per minute. 1.57
grade.
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1.21 - Skykomish - on time 250 PM. Rain on
windshield.
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2.0A - 5 makes a brief pause at Skykomish.
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2.0B - A wave from Engineer White and 5 is on
its way to Seattle.
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2.1 - Motor generator sets in the Skykomish
substation. Been running steadily since 1927.
Original bearings. 350 amps at 13,200 volts
9400 H.P.
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2.2 - Transformers outside. Step down from
110,000 volts to 44,000 volts to 11.500 volts,
11,000 volts 25 cycle on trolley.
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2.3/2.4 - The Empire Builder, 2, on time from
Seattle at 523 PM arrival in Skykomish. 13 cars.
504 is an EMD E7 unit.
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2.5 - Electric motor 5019 with heater car backs
on to 2 after the diesel has been cut off.
George Meyers, Engineer.
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2.6 - Coupled and ready. Switch aligned.
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2.7 - Notched out on the 2.2 grade to the
tunnel. 30 mph on the tangent track.
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2.8 - Rated at 1900 tons on 2.2 grade. 5200
H.P. 22 mph. Class W motor, built by General
Electric in 1948.
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2.9 - A deer bounces across the track.
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2.11 - Looking back from the Firemans side do
the passengers give a thought to the engine crew?
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2.12 - Approaching a curve the pantographs seem
about to slide off the trolley wire.
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2.13 - Slide fences and snaking cars.
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2.14 - West end of Cascade tunnel at Scenic.
Still 8 miles of 1.57 upgrade. It used to cost
1,000,000 a year to maintain the snowsheds.
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2.15 - Over the top and into regeneration.
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2.16 - 5019 is 101 ft long. Wheel diameter 42.
Gear ratio 70/17. Tractive effort 82,600 at
23 mph.
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2.17 - Dry hills, new ballast slide fence.
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2.18 - We let her roll!
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2.19 - Whistling for valley crossings. 22 lb
force against trolley wire.
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2.20 - Wear on trolley wire 0.001/year.
Resistance 0.2 ohm/mile trolley to rail out and
back. Copper cadmium beryllium alloy. 0000
equivalent. 2300 tension, 150 ft span.
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3.6 - Cashmere 705 pm, On Time.
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3.7 - Bob Newton running engine. Superintendent
in charge of the electrification. Dick Harbour on
right.
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3.8 - Bob Newton, hand on the throttle.
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3.9 - The meters tell the story. Were doing
about 48 mph!
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3.11 - We went thru the unit to the rear cab for
a view of the train as we near the Columbia river.
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3.12 - Yard limit Wenatchee. 55 mph.
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3.13 - Green signal.
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3.14 - On time - Wenatchee 720 P.M.
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3.15 - We say goodbye as diesel 275 takes up the
load.
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3.16 - Our host for this trip Bob Newton
.
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Substation graph showing KW in motoring or
regeneration. Eastbound, Skykomish to Levenworth.
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Substation graph showing KW in motoring or
regeneration. Eastbound, Levenworth to Wenatchee
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Great Northern timetable showing Wenatchee -
Seattle
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Data sheet for the W class motors 5018 and 5019
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The End

• I hope you have enjoyed this brief look at Great
  Northerns electrified zone, ca 1953
• Pictures and captions by Alfred B Butler
• PowerPoint presentation done by Bruce Butler
• special thanks to Gary Tarbox for his helpful
  suggestions on PowerPoint