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Re: TRAINS article on Cascade Tunnel - Old vs. New
Author: Martin Burwash
Date: 12-28-2009 - 19:48
A little late to the party here. I thought it was a good article so far as presenting one person's pet theory. Nothing wrong with that. True, there was a major amount of 20-20 hind sight presented, but still it is an interest "what-if."
I think in reality, most people grossly under estimate the scar the Wellington Avalanche left on GN management. I think, even 10-20 years later there still was the idea that for the GN to succeed over time, the heavy snow zone through Wellington needed to by by-passed..hence the new tunnel, AND don't forget, pulling the line out of the slide proned Tumwater Canyon. You have to look at both projects as one...with one major goal in mind, keep the rotaries in the roundhounse. To that end, the new alignment has proven to be a wise move.
In the 20's, diesel/electric locomotion, DPU's and the like could not have been foreseen. You can't even bring those apsects into the discussion if you wnat to remain true to the thought of the time. Electric power was a proven commodity at the time the surveys for the new line were being made, so it made perfect sense to make designs and decisions based on that technology.
Just a few ideas from a guy that's been up there a time or two.
Martin Burwash
I think in reality, most people grossly under estimate the scar the Wellington Avalanche left on GN management. I think, even 10-20 years later there still was the idea that for the GN to succeed over time, the heavy snow zone through Wellington needed to by by-passed..hence the new tunnel, AND don't forget, pulling the line out of the slide proned Tumwater Canyon. You have to look at both projects as one...with one major goal in mind, keep the rotaries in the roundhounse. To that end, the new alignment has proven to be a wise move.
In the 20's, diesel/electric locomotion, DPU's and the like could not have been foreseen. You can't even bring those apsects into the discussion if you wnat to remain true to the thought of the time. Electric power was a proven commodity at the time the surveys for the new line were being made, so it made perfect sense to make designs and decisions based on that technology.
Just a few ideas from a guy that's been up there a time or two.
Martin Burwash
