Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad: South Cle Elum Yard
Encyclopedia
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad South Cle Elum Rail Yard located in South Cle Elum, Washington
, was a division point on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
's Coast Division. It was established by the railroad (also known as The Milwaukee Road) in 1909 during construction of its "Pacific Extension".
, the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Great Northern Railway, The Milwaukee Road decided that in order to compete, it too must expand into the Northwest. It began construction on the Pacific Extension in 1906 and completed the rail line into Tacoma, Washington
in 1909.
The Milwaukee Road placed division points approximately every 100 to 150 miles (241.4 km) apart. The division point was where locomotives were serviced, where train crews came on and off duty, and where trains were sorted and rolling stock stored. In addition, depots or stations
were also placed at division points in order for passengers or freight to get on or off trains.
The division point at South Cle Elum was placed between the terminus at Tacoma and the next division point at Othello, Washington
. Thus South Cle Elum was the last crew change westbound before crossing the Cascade Range
at Snoqualmie Pass
and going into Seattle, Washington; as well as the first crew change eastbound from Seattle to Othello and beyond to the Midwest, the Twin Cities and Chicago, Illinois.
at South Cle Elum consisted of the depot, the roundhouse
(now a ruin), the turntable
(also a ruin), ash pit, water tank (now a ruin), and the bunkhouse
where train crews spent time between shifts. After The Milwaukee Road electrified
around 1920, an electric substation and substation operators' residences were also built at the rail yard.
, the substation operators' houses were taken over by private individuals who continue to live in them. In lieu of paying back taxes, the railroad transferred ownership of the main line and infrastructure to the state. The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association was instrumental in having the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) take over the property and create a trail. In honor of the club's activities, the trail was named the John Wayne Pioneer Trail
. In 1985, the DNR transferred the trail to the State Parks and Recreation Commission who then created Iron Horse State Park
. The remaining buildings such as the depot and substation, as well as the remains of the rail yard were integrated into the park.
The depot is now a museum operated for the park's benefit by the Cascade Rail Foundation.
Because of the integrity of the buildings as well as the integrity of the setting, the rail yard and associated buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places
in 2003.
South Cle Elum, Washington
South Cle Elum is a town in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census.-History:In mid 1909, the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railway chose Cle Elum as a division point between the Coast and Columbia divisions on its future transcontinental line...
, was a division point on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
's Coast Division. It was established by the railroad (also known as The Milwaukee Road) in 1909 during construction of its "Pacific Extension".
History
After the completion of the first two transcontinental railroads into the Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Great Northern Railway, The Milwaukee Road decided that in order to compete, it too must expand into the Northwest. It began construction on the Pacific Extension in 1906 and completed the rail line into Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
in 1909.
The Milwaukee Road placed division points approximately every 100 to 150 miles (241.4 km) apart. The division point was where locomotives were serviced, where train crews came on and off duty, and where trains were sorted and rolling stock stored. In addition, depots or stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
were also placed at division points in order for passengers or freight to get on or off trains.
The division point at South Cle Elum was placed between the terminus at Tacoma and the next division point at Othello, Washington
Othello, Washington
Othello is a city in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,847 at the 2000 census and grew 25.9% over the next decade to 7,364 at the 2010 census. Othello refers to the city as being in the "Heart" of the Columbia Basin Project...
. Thus South Cle Elum was the last crew change westbound before crossing the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
at Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 90 through the Cascade Range in the U.S. State of Washington. The elevation of the pass summit is , and is on the county line between Kittitas County and King County...
and going into Seattle, Washington; as well as the first crew change eastbound from Seattle to Othello and beyond to the Midwest, the Twin Cities and Chicago, Illinois.
The rail yard
The rail yardRail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
at South Cle Elum consisted of the depot, the roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
(now a ruin), the turntable
Turntable (railroad)
A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
(also a ruin), ash pit, water tank (now a ruin), and the bunkhouse
Milwaukee Road Bunkhouse
The Milwaukee Road Bunkhouse was built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1909 to house train crews between shifts. The bunkhouse served the crews at the rail yard and division point at South Cle Elum, Washington...
where train crews spent time between shifts. After The Milwaukee Road electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
around 1920, an electric substation and substation operators' residences were also built at the rail yard.
After The Milwaukee Road abandonment and Iron Horse State Park
In 1980 The Milwaukee Road ceased service in Washington. It sold off much of its property. The bunkhouse became a bed and breakfastBed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
, the substation operators' houses were taken over by private individuals who continue to live in them. In lieu of paying back taxes, the railroad transferred ownership of the main line and infrastructure to the state. The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association was instrumental in having the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) take over the property and create a trail. In honor of the club's activities, the trail was named the John Wayne Pioneer Trail
John Wayne Pioneer Trail
The John Wayne Pioneer Trail follows the former roadbed of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad for across two-thirds of Washington from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the Idaho border. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St...
. In 1985, the DNR transferred the trail to the State Parks and Recreation Commission who then created Iron Horse State Park
Iron Horse State Park
Iron Horse State Park, part of the Washington State Park System, is a state park located in the Cascade Mountains and Yakima River Valley, between Cedar Falls on the west and the Columbia River on the east....
. The remaining buildings such as the depot and substation, as well as the remains of the rail yard were integrated into the park.
The depot is now a museum operated for the park's benefit by the Cascade Rail Foundation.
Because of the integrity of the buildings as well as the integrity of the setting, the rail yard and associated buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2003.