WTCX Trip: Headquarters

Continued from Landfill.

The locomotives pulling into Headquarters. Photo by Cliff West.

The view from the caboose of the engines stopped at Headquarters, on the return trip.

At Headquarters the train stopped to give us a chance to stretch our legs and change seats.

Maintenance Equipment at Headquarters. 

Headquarters is the maintenance base of operation for this part of the railroad. In the past, Headquarters was much more important than it is today, but it is still an important facility. Traces of Headquarters' former glory could be seen around in remaining concrete foundations of buildings long gone.

Speeder #322. Notice the chrome horns on the roof.

Speeders were used on the Weyerhaeuser Woods Railroad from the beginning. Some speeders were capable of speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Speeders were essential for transporting workers into the woods before logging roads were built, as well as for getting railroad workers to places along the line to work on the track.

Larger Speeder #313, with more chrome horns.

Weyerhaeuser takes their speeders seriously! Large Speeder #313 even carries welding equipment. This is very large for a speeder. Speeders had all but disappeared from most railroads in favor of hi-rail trucks, but Weyerhaeuser still seemed to use them extensively.

Engine #302 at Headquarters.

Engine #302, the one I couldn't get a photo of in Longview. I was able to get a photo at Headquarters. It is another SW1500, like the others. Notice, however, that they are all a little different if you look closely.

Weyerhaeuser Woods Railroad herald on the cab of engine #306.

Of the 6 engines on the train, only #306 had a herald like this, though speeder #313 also had one. This is a very cool herald, so cool I replicated it for use on the top of the introduction page for this trip. Note that the herald includes the words "Since 1928." The Columbia & Cowlitz was completed in 1928, so the Weyerhaeuser Woods Railroad built from where the Columbia & Cowlitz left off. Presumably enough railroad had been built by 1929 to support the operation of the mill.

Engine #305 at Headquarters. Photo by Cliff West.

Engine #305 was the lead engine on the way up to Landfill. Now it was the trailing engine, coupled to the cabooses.

Engine #302 at Headquarters. Photo by Cliff West.

Engine #302 from the other side. Photo by Cliff West.

Al Belanger in the cab of #305. Photo by Cliff West.

In addition to the cabooses, the empty cabs of the additional locomotives were also available for seating. My dad took the above photo just before reboarding the caboose. I was sitting on the other side of this locomotive’s cab for the return trip.

View from the cab of #305 of the locomotives preparing to leave Headquarters. Note the yellow speeder in the distance on the siding.

Heading back to Longview, the impressive view from Headquarters, to the north.

A glimpse of Silver Lake in the north from Headquarters.

Continue to Ostrander Tunnel…