1953 cab ride across the Great Northern’s electrified subdivision

Westbound on train #5, the Cascade, in diesel 251-A

Eastbound on train #2, the Empire Builder, in motor 5019

Pictures and captions by Alfred B Butler, Pullman WAcollection of Bruce Butler

PowerPoint presentation by Bruce Butler

Summer 1953 cab ride across GN’s electrified zoneIntroduction by Bruce Butler

Dick Harbour was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Washington State College in PullmanWA. Every summer he would arrange a field trip for some students. In the summer of 1953this was a trip in the locomotive cab across GN’s electrified zone from Wenatchee to Skykomishon train #5, the Cascadian and returning on train #2, the Empire Builder. The student who wasscheduled for this trip had to cancel at the last minute. My father, Alfred B Butler, was aProfessor of Physics at WSC. Dick, knowing my father’s interest in trains and his specialinterest in railroad electrification, invited him to take the students’ place on the trip. I alsowanted to go very badly, but at age 13 was deemed to be too young for such an adventure.Maybe dad just didn’t want to rock the boat and possibly loose out on a good thing!

I did get to go that morning when we dropped him at the Wenatchee station to get onto #5, andagain that evening when #2 arrived. These pictures were taken by him on both the westboundtrip and on the eastbound return trip. While the “Cascadian” used a 2-unit FT diesel set that ranthrough from Spokane to Seattle, the eastbound “Empire Builder” had one of the big W classelectric motors built by General Electric in 1948.

My father was born in 1911 and developed an early interest in things scientific and technical.The Milwaukee’s electrification project was big news when he was a boy and it captured hisimagination and interest. He grew up in Spokane WA where his father, Alfred D Butler, was theSpokane City Engineer and made frequent trips to the coast. His preferred route was alwayson the Great Northern.

The remainder of this presentation is taken from images I scanned from my father’s photoalbum. The picture captions are his.

Original trip notes by Alfred B Butler - part 1

Original trip notes by Alfred B Butler - part 2

1.1 - No. 5 holds the “Main” at Monitor for a meet with No. 6.

1.2 - 12:51 PM No. 6 shows up on time

1.3 - Eastbound “Cascadian” growles slowly into the passing track.

1.4 - Diesel 251-A idles waiting for #6 to clear. #251-A doing 330 miles/day has run over 1,800,000 miles. 1350 hp each unit.

1.5 -Engineer Al White notches back the throttle with an eye on ammeter. 1000 amps. #250 and #251 are the oldest FTs on GN. 75 RPM per throttle notch.

1.6 - 5 cars trail #251. Friction 5# per ton. Load 20# per ton on 1% grade.

1.7 - Winton tunnel. Engineer got 4 deer last night. 1.6% grade.

1.8 - Rails & Trolley reflect light from tunnel opening. Tunnel on a curve. Pantograph apt to bounce.

1.9 - Length 4059.4 feet. Sound level high.

1.10 - Flag stop at Winton. On time at 1:42 pm

1.11 - A hand on the whistle; rain on the windshield.

1.12 - new $1,000,000 alignment straightens track.

1.13 - Mile post 1696.3 - high trestle & tunnel.

1.14 - Looking down from the trestle. 2.2% grade.

1.15 - A mountain in the way. Short tunnel; you can see thru.

1.16 - We crest the grade at Berne. Elevation 2883 ft. Cascade tunnel length 7.79 miles or 41,152 ft.

1.17 - 2:04 pm. Drop 500 ft in 8 miles. 8 mi/hr wind west to east through open tunnel. 34-36 applications of air from here to Skykomish.

1.18 - 10 degree curve. Outside rail elevated 3-3/4” to allow 30 mph speed.

1.19 - Slow order. Movement of bank. 15 mph. GN Geologists are draining hillside. New rail ready to install.

1.20 - Looking back from Engineer’s side. Acceleration coasting 12 mph per minute. 1.57% grade.

1.21 - Skykomish - on time 2:50 PM. Rain on windshield.

2.0A - #5 makes a brief pause at Skykomish.

2.0B - A wave from Engineer White and #5 is on its way to Seattle.

2.1 - Motor generator sets in the Skykomish substation. Been running steadily since 1927. Original bearings. 350 amps at 13,200 volts; 9400 H.P.

2.2 - Transformers outside. Step down from 110,000 volts to 44,000 volts to 11.500 volts, 11,000 volts 25 cycle on trolley.

2.3/2.4 - The Empire Builder, #2, on time from Seattle at 5:23 PM arrival in Skykomish. 13 cars. 504 is an EMD E7 unit.

2.5 - Electric motor 5019 with heater car backs on to #2 after the diesel has been cut off. George Meyers, Engineer.

2.6 - Coupled and ready. Switch aligned.

2.7 - Notched out on the 2.2% grade to the tunnel. 30 mph on the tangent track.

2.8 - Rated at 1900 tons on 2.2% grade. 5200 H.P. 22 mph. Class W motor, built by General Electric in 1948.

2.9 - A deer bounces across the track.

2.11 - Looking back from the Fireman’s side; do the passengers give a thought to the engine crew?

2.12 - Approaching a curve the pantographs seem about to slide off the trolley wire.

2.13 - Slide fences and snaking cars.

2.14 - West end of Cascade tunnel at Scenic. Still 8 miles of 1.57% upgrade. It used to cost $1,000,000 a year to maintain the snowsheds.

2.15 - Over the top and into regeneration.

2.16 - 5019 is 101 ft long. Wheel diameter 42”. Gear ratio 70/17. Tractive effort 82,600# at 23 mph.

2.17 - Dry hills, new ballast & slide fence.

2.18 - We let her roll!

2.19 - Whistling for valley crossings. 22 lb force against trolley wire.

2.20 - Wear on trolley wire 0.001”/year. Resistance 0.2 ohm/mile trolley to rail out and back. Copper cadmium beryllium alloy. 0000 equivalent. 2300# tension, 150 ft span.

3.6 - Cashmere 7:05 pm, On Time.

3.7 - Bob Newton running engine. Superintendent in charge of the electrification. Dick Harbour on right.

3.8 - Bob Newton, hand on the throttle.

3.9 - The meters tell the story. We’re doing about 48 mph!

3.11 - We went thru the unit to the rear cab for a view of the train as we near the Columbia river.

3.12 - Yard limit Wenatchee. 55 mph.

3.13 - Green signal.

3.14 - On time - Wenatchee 7:20 P.M.

3.15 - We say goodbye as diesel 275 takes up the load.

. 3.16 - Our host for this trip; Bob Newton

Substation graph showing KW in motoring or regeneration. Eastbound, Skykomish to Levenworth.

Substation graph showing KW in motoring or regeneration. Eastbound, Levenworth to Wenatchee

Great Northern timetable showing

Wenatchee - Seattle

Data sheet for the W class motors 5018 and 5019

The End

I hope you have enjoyed this brief look at Great Northern’s electrified zone, ca 1953

Pictures and captions by Alfred B Butler

PowerPoint presentation done by Bruce Butler

special thanks to Gary Tarbox for his helpful suggestions on PowerPoint