Trains on Stevens Pass in July 2000

I took these pictures in July of 2000 when my family visited Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. This first train was an eastbound freight train that was passing slowly through the town of Skykomish. It was led by Burlington Northern #7130, a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in January 1979.

The second unit in the train, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #3014 was originally built as a 3,000-horsepower GP40 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in December 1966 as Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #182. After the CB&Q was merged into the Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, it became Burlington Northern #3012. In November 1989 it was rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen in Boise, Idaho, as a GP40M, and became Burlington Northern #3515. After the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe merged to form the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, it became BNSF #3014, but was still wearing BN colors.

We went to the east portal of the 7.79-mile Cascade Tunnel at Berne, Washington. This tunnel opened on January 12, 1929, and was originally electrified for the use of electric locomotives. A ventilation system was completed at this end of the tunnel on July 31, 1956, to allow diesel locomotives to be used in the tunnel. The door at this end of the tunnel forces the fumes to be blown out the other end; when the ventilation system is running, the door stays closed until an approaching train is with 3,200 feet of the portal.

This is the highest point on the Stevens Pass line, so this westbound freight train had been working hard to climb to this point, and would now be able to enter the tunnel and start down the other side.

Leading this train was Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4699, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in April 2000.

This freight train also featured a pair of mid-train helper locomotives. Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4629 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in January 2000.

The original door at the east portal of the Cascade Tunnel opened vertically, but in 1997, the ventilation system was rebuilt, and a new door was installed that slides to the side.

This is the same eastbound train that we had seen earlier at Skykomish. The ventilation fans are still running with the door open, so some of the exhaust can be seen escaping from this end of the tunnel.

Having completed its climb this train can now continue down the east side of Stevens Pass.