History of UP line in E. WA.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone please provide info regarding the history of the Union Pacific track running from the Lyons Ferry State Park area heading north through the tunnels, which border the Palouse River, up to the Palouse Falls State Park area and eventually to Spokane? The setting for these tunnels is very impressive. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Robert

[Anonymous]

THIS IS THE "WASHY" LINE. IT WAS BUILT IN THE 1900-1910 ERA AS A DIRECT LINE FROM UMATILLA ORERON TO SPOKANE WASHINGTON TO REPLACE A ROUNDABOUT, CROOKED AND STEEPLY GRADED LINE FROM PENDLETON TO SPOKANE VIA WALLA WALLA. THE WASHY ALSO INCLUDES THE WELL KNOWN JOSO TRESTLE OVER THE SNAKE RIVER. THIS LINE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF HARRIMAN ERA CONSTRUCTION, STRAIGHT, LOW BUT STEADY GRADE. THE EXPENSIVE CUT AND FILL WORK YOU SAW WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH STANDARDS THAT WERE HARRIMAN'S TRADEMARK. I HAVE A BOOK ON THE OWR&N (OREGON WASHINGTON RAILWAY & NAVIGATION) WHICH BUILT ALL UP LINES EAST OF HUNTINGTON OREGON. THAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST SOURCE. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE TITLE OF BOOK OR AUTHOR READILY AVAILABLE.

[Anonymous]

I found my book. It is "Union Pacific Northwest" by Jeff Asay, published by PFM Edmonds Washington in 1991.

Asay describes the "Harriman Era" on OWR&N as 1899-1916, even though Harriman died in 1909. The construction of the Washy is described on pages 124-130. The new line was 104 miles from Ayer to Spokane and included a new passenger depot in downtown Spokane. Construction began in 1911 and was completed in 1914. Total cost was $20,000,000. That would be about $2 billion today! $200,000 per mile was expensive then and the rock work you saw cost probably double that average at the time. There is a reason that it is impressive. Fortunately you have the eyes to recognize it. Most don't, unfortunately.

Mac