30+ Minutes Of American Shortline Action! Chasing The Meeker Southern

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

Awful jointed rail, friendly crews, and unique consists of rolling stock and engines are just a few things that American shortlines are known for. Today I got the chance to catch the Meeker Southern Railroad, a shortline that runs from east Puyallup to McMillin, Washington. This was by far the easiest "chase" I have ever done because the railroad has a top speed of 10mph, 5mph on most of the line because the track is old, i mean 1920s old. The majority of these clips are backlit because of the time of day that this ran. I edited the clips the best I could, but some were not able to be saved. Please sit back, grab some pop corn and enjoy some classic Americana!

Пікірлер: 57

  • @tex-hogger4974
    @tex-hogger49743 жыл бұрын

    I worked that line once off the extra board in Tacoma when BN still had it. Crew 8. We did the same thing, shoved a box car to them with a caboose and brought back a box and 2 tank cars. I grew up in the valley right down form there. When I was a kid in the summer time I would "rail fan" the local and about the third day the crew let me ride with the. We went all the way to Orting once to switch the feed mill and turned the train on the wye east of town. I also remember when the line went all the way to Buckley, Enumclaw, South Prairie and to the end of the line before the bridge collapsed over the Puyallup near Electon.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    That is so cool. Thanks for this comment.

  • @everettrailfan

    @everettrailfan

    2 жыл бұрын

    Any idea what gets shipped in that boxcar and those tankers?

  • @DirTyOhGee

    @DirTyOhGee

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@everettrailfan Most likely shipping out finished cardboard product in the boxcars and glue of some sort in the tankers or some other liquid chemical used in the process of manufacturing cardboard and or corrugated products.

  • @patricknoveski6409
    @patricknoveski64094 ай бұрын

    Hooo. Thats some rough track. But great filming. Nice.

  • @wertbe1718
    @wertbe1718 Жыл бұрын

    I drive by this railroad often on my commute, it runs so rarely I never see it, even thought the railroad was abandoned.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    Жыл бұрын

    Sure looks like it is in some spots.

  • @DelayInBlockProductions
    @DelayInBlockProductions2 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful video! Love the shoving platform.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! That was one of my favorite shots as well.

  • @MeepBeep0670

    @MeepBeep0670

    2 жыл бұрын

    Didn't expect you here!

  • @keplergso8369
    @keplergso8369 Жыл бұрын

    This short line deserves several factories, the last one is a packaging factory where the line turns to, but we can see that this line was going on straight on, but there are no more rails.

  • @rjl110919581
    @rjl1109195812 жыл бұрын

    WOW GREAT SMALL RAILROAD THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE DETAILED VIDEO

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed!

  • @stephensaasen8589
    @stephensaasen85892 жыл бұрын

    Read the comment below and suspected this was the line I was thinking about. I came to the world in 1972 so didn't get to see much of this line when it went thru Buckley, Enumclaw and at one time it met the NP Stampede pass main at Palmer. This was part of the original Northern Pacific transcontinental main line completed around 1883 or so. NP later built the newer section of mainline further north out of Auburn and up to Palmer in later years, reducing the original segment thru Enumclaw to branch line. I think they built the new segment some time in the 1920's in favor of better alignment, curvature and grades, and to avoid a high maintenance bridge with a tight curve in it. This new alignment sped up traffic through the area. We lived in the Tacoma area until 1983. Before moving, we went to see relatives near Buckley. We hadn't been that way in years. By the time we went that way in 1983, much of the line was pulled up. I think everything was still intact toward Orting but the old main thru Enumclaw and Buckley were gone. So nice to see part of this historic line still in operation.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    Жыл бұрын

    Somehow just now saw this comment.. Thanks for watching! Enjoyed the story.

  • @mikehudsonrocks9585
    @mikehudsonrocks9585 Жыл бұрын

    Outstanding! Just found your channel today. Wow! Thanks so much!!

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    Жыл бұрын

    Great! Thank you! I'm glad you're here.

  • @lagunsmoose
    @lagunsmoose Жыл бұрын

    Great video! I never have had a chance to catch them running, so this vid is awesome! Great job! 👍 Hard to believe the NP running steamers on this ex-mainline 100 years ago!

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Yes, the history of the railroads is to me the coolest part!

  • @chrishinnant3924
    @chrishinnant3924 Жыл бұрын

    Good horn for a caboose🚂🚂. Some have whistles

  • @everettrailfan
    @everettrailfan3 жыл бұрын

    They're now getting the SW1200 from Eastside Freight Railroad which ceased operations recently here near Snohomish.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yup. It arrived 2 weeks ago infact. Thanks for watching!

  • @everettrailfan

    @everettrailfan

    3 жыл бұрын

    @Marty Fourre Yeah, I never got to see them operate. By the time I heard of them in August or so, they had already shut down.

  • @wafflesnfalafel1

    @wafflesnfalafel1

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@West_Cascade_Rail very cool - we are up right near the Woodinville Wye and wondered what happened to that motor...

  • @kenwilken8762
    @kenwilken87624 ай бұрын

    Very cool video! I live in Southern California and am not familiar with the area. I had no idea that there were so many short lines operating in the PNW. Only comment about this video - I can't read the small captions. Otherwise, good job!

  • @austindreyer2930
    @austindreyer29303 жыл бұрын

    Nice Converted Roller Bearings.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    Nice catch. Thanks for watching!

  • @steve87thpsap
    @steve87thpsap3 жыл бұрын

    Wow nice day working the railroad. These are great shots for model railroaders, the tracks are just amazing, have they done anything to them since the were laid by the NP. Very nice documenting.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    So glad you enjoyed, Steve! Other than replacing track at grade crossings with concrete ties, and other absolute necessary repairs, the track is the same from the NP days. Some of the rails even say 1924 on the sides of them.

  • @ptsr_93
    @ptsr_932 жыл бұрын

    Nice video! Greeting's from the east coast!

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the comment! Glad you found my video.

  • @mikesimmons8762
    @mikesimmons876211 ай бұрын

    8/1/23 Watched this great video again. Google maps shows a permanent derail sign when I sight up the track toward Meeker from the ground at Military Road E crossing. Perhaps this is to protect transloads. Just beyond the derail is a gate allowing access to the road next to the track. The road continues on for a little ways then routes through another gate into the back of the Big Rig Tanker Service yard. The all weather caboose shoving platform has ditch lights and horns. The conductor has a nice view from his doorway seat. Is Optimus Transload at Pioneer Wy E crossing a customer?

  • @MilePost106
    @MilePost1063 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video!!!!

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Glad you enjoyed.

  • @docsrailroad
    @docsrailroad2 жыл бұрын

    Amazing documentation! How often, and on which days do these trains run though? I would love to railfan this route.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    I believe every Friday, but that might have changed. Thanks for the comment!

  • @genehardy774
    @genehardy7743 жыл бұрын

    Great video...thanks for sharing. Where is the location where they removed the portable derail. It looks like they may have a new customer at that location? Thanks again

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    That was on military rd right off of 101. I'm not sure why that de-rail was there, there was no customer that it stopped at.

  • @Buddha-eb5yl
    @Buddha-eb5yl3 жыл бұрын

    The Tracks needs a refreshing 😯😳😈

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's for sure. Thanks for watching!

  • @draytonblackgrove
    @draytonblackgrove2 жыл бұрын

    Excellent.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @crsrdash-840b5
    @crsrdash-840b53 жыл бұрын

    I gave you the second like! Is that locomotive a SW7 or SW1200?

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! MSN 103 is actually a SW9. Thanks for the question.

  • @gradyfry4691
    @gradyfry4691 Жыл бұрын

    BNSF should help this short line out by repairing their tracks and putting down new ballast.

  • @CreamyPennePasta
    @CreamyPennePasta5 ай бұрын

    Does this still exist?

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    5 ай бұрын

    Yes! They should run every Monday, Wendsday, and Friday in the late morning/afternoon.

  • @MeepBeep0670
    @MeepBeep06702 жыл бұрын

    Awsome! 2 Questions. What is the locomotive and does the caboose have any history with other railroads?

  • @everettrailfan

    @everettrailfan

    2 жыл бұрын

    The locomotive is an SW1200, if that's what you mean, and for the caboose, I can't find much. All I can find is that it used to belong to the BN.

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    2 жыл бұрын

    Let me check on that

  • @user-kq7bg6dj2g
    @user-kq7bg6dj2g3 жыл бұрын

    watched the video with pleasure! is it also fz 1000?

  • @West_Cascade_Rail

    @West_Cascade_Rail

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes sir!

  • @portlandrailfanproductions1155
    @portlandrailfanproductions1155 Жыл бұрын

    Do they serve any other businesses

  • @bradfordthompson8326
    @bradfordthompson83262 жыл бұрын

    Nice Video....Did this line go by Woodinville With the old fun dinner train ...Man That was a fun dinner trains...(It be fun to put a dinner trains on BNSF SUMAS BRANCH LINE 😋)......Anyway is there any hope for new Business...perhaps a truck to rail Transloads Facilities Grants

  • @x_dba
    @x_dba3 жыл бұрын

    Anybody else annoyed by the signals at 3:07?

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