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Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad

Since 2000, I have been documenting the activities at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad's shop in Mineral, Washington, a town in the Cascades known for its fishing lake, and (as recently covered by German television), flying saucers! 

The railroad restores and operates antique steam logging locomotives from the nearby town of  Elbe. Visitors can ride the trains during the summer and fall months. However, the real action occurs in their shop at Mineral. Here, it might as well be Pittsburgh c. 1930.  

The following is a very small sampling  from my project, which includes  portraits shot in the manner and style of the period -- with apologies to the master of classic logging railroad photography, Darius Kinsey.

 

Mason County Logging #7 (b.1910), was restored at Mineral. The 2-6-2 Baldwin engine's worked in  the lower Puget Sound area, including some years with the Black Hills and Northwestern Railroad Company at Bordeaux, in the Capitol Forest.  In 1928, she was sold to the Port Of Olympia as #2 -- hence her nickname, "POO-2." 

The locomotive is now in private ownership near Willits, California.

 

Here, volunteers, Andy Rose (left)  and Aaron Zorko pause from their work on the boiler. Zorko's day job was as a nuclear engineer on an aircraft carrier.

 

Scott Wickert emerges from some early work on POO-2's (Mason Co. #7)'s  boiler.

 

 

(left) Tightening bolts.

 

 

 

 

(right) Shop view

 

Two more shots from   #7's restoration

 

A portrait of  #7 under steam shortly before delivery to her California owner.

 

 

 (left) Hillcrest Timber, #10, a Climax type locomotive pulls a steam donkey and caboose in MRSR's geared locomotive races. Her time from a standing start to 300 feet was 26 seconds.

 

(right) Portrait of shop crew with #10. Pictured are, Jack Anderson (L) and Scott Wickert.

 

 

 

(left) Another photo from race day. Pickering Lumber's #11 Shay pulls her load over the 300 foot course.

 

(right) Cutting old rivets away during a boiler restoration.

 

(left) John & Scott Wickert with their restored Heisler locomotive and 1920's era caboose.

(right) Near Mineral Creek, the Heisler and crew pause for a portrait.

This locomotive can be seen in Garabaldi, Oregon, near Tillimook, where it pulls a tourist train.

 

 

(left)  Quiet

 

 

 

                       (right) Tim

 

 (left) Rex

 

 

(right) Jack

 

 

(left) Steam

 

 

(right) Train humor

 

All images and text © Carl Cook. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any way whatsoever without permission. This includes Internet use. All images are registered with and protected by Digimarc. 

 

The photographer wishes to offer condolences to the family and friends of Jack Anderson (pictured above), who passed away suddenly, December, 1, 2004 at Ely, Nevada. Jack was employed at the Nevada Northern Railway. At MRSR, Jack always made this photographer comfortable, making sure I had all the access and cooperation I needed to get just the right shot. Jack was a gentleman, a truly nice guy. I thank him for all I was able to accomplish at the railroad, and I will miss him.  

 

To learn more about the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad, visit their website by clicking HERE.

 When you visit the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, you will pass through the town of Mineral. Located in the shadow of Mount Rainer, near the Nisqually River, Mineral is known for its fishing lake and small town atmosphere.

For information, click HERE.

This photograph was taken by a resident of Mineral. Prints can be purchased at the town's store.

Go back to the main page by clicking  http://www.clcookphoto.com