Lee Hower Wrote:
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> Tom,
>
> I'd heard about those trips where the Portland
> NRHS chapter would ask SP&S to tack the Mt. St.
> Helens on eastbound No. 4 for a round trip to
> Bend. The only day that could be run was a Friday
> departure from Portland because the northbound
> mixed would not connect with any train in Wishram,
> except on Saturdays when it left Bend at 7pm
> instead of 1am, and could connect with either No.
> 3 or No. 1. However, the BN merger on March 2,
> 1970 eliminated that "local control", and that
> Pullman lounge never made it to Bend again.
>
> I did hear a story that one time they made that
> trip when the train was stuck at South Junction
> because of a derailment ahead of it. After
> waiting in the canyon for hours, a bus showed up
> to get everyone out of there. However, instead of
> leaving, they commandeered the bus to make a food
> and beer run to Madras. Everyone returned to the
> car and I guess they got home to Portland a day
> late. I wonder if anyone has any photos of that
> trip.
>
> Lee Hower


Lee, you were right on the money about a Friday evening departure from Portland. We stopped
at Wishram for awhile before continuing on down the Trunk and then spent all day Saturday
in Bend before a late afternoon departure. I did get a few photos in Bend including one
slide of the hogger in the RS-3. Got back on Sunday morning & then Jack Holst took me out
to Banks where the 105 & former Pickering 8 were fired up. Greg Kamholz let me run the big
Shay a little in the yard, I'll never forget that.