Iron Goat Trail: Concrete Snowshed

Concrete snowshed from Highway 2 in 1994. Photo by Cliff West.

This 2,462-foot reinforced concrete snowshed was built during the summers of 1910 and 1911, at a cost of $680,000. This snowshed was designed to cover two tracks to protect trains waiting at Wellington.

Concrete snowshed from Highway 2 in 1994.

These first two pictures shows the snowshed from Highway 2. These pictures were taken in 1994, so today, the trees are most likely obscuring it even more.

Collapsed west end of the concrete snowshed in 2000.

The west end of this massive structure has collapsed, most likely the result of an avalanche that after decades without maintenance the structure could not withstand. The collapsed section does provide a look at the extensive web of reinforcing steel rebar that would otherwise be buried in the concrete. Even though it has partially collapsed, much of it is still stable, and it seems it still would have largely protected a train had one been beneath it at the time: a testament to Great Northern's engineers and construction crews. East of the collapsed section, the Iron Goat Trail moves into the snowshed, and hikers walk for over a quarter mile under the cover of the massive structure.

Andrea at the west end of the concrete snowshed in 2000.

The Iron Goat Trail goes around the collapsed section of the snowshed on a wooden pathway. East of the collapsed section, the Iron Goat Trail moves into the snowshed, and hikers walk for over a quarter mile under the cover of the massive structure. This picture shows my sister Andrea at the point where the trail enters the snowshed.

View of the collapsed end of the snowshed from inside in 2000.

Deteriorating concrete column with exposed rebar in 2000.

View of the concrete snowshed from the viewing platform in 2000.

Partway through the snowshed, the builders of the Iron Goat Trail installed a viewing platform on the outside of the snowshed. This platform allows for a view of the snowshed from the outside, as well as the surrounding terrain.

View inside the concrete snowshed looking west in 2000.

The snowshed was built to cover two tracks, with a row of concrete columns between them. For most of its length, the trail is built on the inner trackbed.

View inside the concrete snowshed looking west in 2000.

View inside the concrete snowshed looking west in 2000.

Near the east end of the snowshed, the trail switches to the outer trackbed. This photo was taken looking west from where the trail switches, and shows where the outer track was located. From this view, the trail is built where the inner track was, leaving the outer trackbed in its natural overgrown state.

East end of the concrete snowshed in 2000.

At the east end of the concrete snowshed the trail crosses a stream on a wooden footbridge and leads to another trailhead. This trailhead is located on the site of the town of Wellington, which was immediately at the east end of the concrete snowshed.

East end of the concrete snowshed in 1994.

Before the Iron Goat Trail was built, the concrete snowshed was still accessible, though there was no maintained trail to reach it. Forest Service roads came within a short walk of the snowshed, and the old railroad grade could easily be followed to the east end of the concrete snowshed. These 1994 pictures show the snowshed before the Iron Goat Trail was built.

View inside the concrete snowshed in 1994.

Broken electrical insulator found near the concrete snowshed in 1994.

During the 1994 visit, I found an old insulator near the east end of the concrete snowshed that I thought might have been part of the railroad electrification. Unfortunately, it had been broken.

Historical Photos:
Concrete Snowshed at Tye, May 25, 1913 (WSHS)
Concrete Snowshed at Tye, May 25, 1913 (WSHS)
Electrics at concrete snowshed on August 2, 1928 (UW)

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