Chehalis Western Railroad

[whitcombt]

Does anyone have information on the Chehalis Western railroad? I would like to model it in N scale and I'm having a hard time locating photographs and information on it. Thanks, Tyler

[kenneo]

You will have a hard time. It started out life as the Tacoma Eastern and built south of Tacoma to Chehalis and east to Morton and west to Raymond. They were going to continue over White Pass to Yakima but never made it.

When the CMStP&P (MILW) extended west about 1900, they purchased the T&E. Everything south of Tacoma was originally T&E. When the MILW abandoned the western extension west of Miles City, the TE was purchased by Weyerhaeuser and renamed the Chehalis Western. Hauled logs to Tacoma from south of Chehalis. Logs ran out and the City of Tacoma bought it and now it operates as part of the Port of Tacoma RR. Boeing, at Renton, is one of their customers, I think.

[whitcombt]

Thanks for the information. Do you have any information on the Chehalis Western after 1980? It seems Weyerhaeuser purchased the line during that time. I have read in some past articles that the railroad purchased 4 new GP38-2s, three new wide vision cabooses, and a bunch of ex-Milw. log cars. They also transfered locomotives from the vail line.
Does anyone have any photographs of these locomotives or train cars? I am also looking for photographs and information on the railroads non-revenue cars, as well, as any information on train consists. Thanks, Tyler

[Hillyard]

check this
2 GP38 & a caboose

http://www.carrtracks.com/cabcw2.jpg

also, info on the roster found at:
http://www.trainweb.org/rosters/CWWRold.html

hope this helps.
Hillyard

[PNWRMNM]

Keno is mostly correct but omits the source of the name which was the original Chehalis Western which ran west from Chehalis for 10-20 miles. I have slides somewhere of a C-415 on a log train. In the late 1960's CW was a private logging line owned by Weyerhaeuser Timber. NP had a branch to South Bend and MILW did too at one time. In the mid/late 1960's CW had overhead rights on MILW to where their line between Mud Bay? and Vail and beyond crossed the MILW. Log trains originated on CW got on MILW on South edge of Chehalis and ran up to Weyco, then down to Mud Bay where logs were dumped to the Sound and then rafted to final destination.

I got a cab ride once in that era. Power was a pair of modern GP units as I recall. Was slow and rough. If you are wanting to model it be sure to add a few logs pitched off the train to your right-of-way.

Mac

[PNWRMNM]

You asked about cars. They were all 40 foot skeleton log flats. Weyco with cheesblocks only. MILW had stakes. I know Weyco bought MILW cars when MILW folded.

Mac

[kenneo]

Mac

That C-415 you saw (702?) should have been one of the three ex-SP C-415's that went to the CLC. I was told that one whent to the CW and the other two (700 and 701) went to the people that operated excursion passanger movements out of Tillamook and converted two of the Pennisula Gallery cars to their use. Then they went to the Banks dinner train and from there, I don't know where they went.

Didn't know where WEYCO got the name for the TE.

[PNWRMNM]

Kenno,

While you may be correct, I think Weyco bought the one I saw new. Remember this was 1967 or 1968 and the units were then in production.

Mac

[kenneo]

Mac

So where did the 702 go to if not to the WC? Would it still in Longview?

I never paid much attention to the Weyerhaueser operation of the TE, but I think they only had the GP's and one C-415, but that doesn't make it fact.

All I ever remember about the CW was what I told our inquirer.

Eric

[PNWRMNM]

Eric,

I have no knowledge of any of the former SP units.

Mac