Dilbert Wrote:
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> my question is what was the reason that
> Amtrak detoured over the MILW in the Cascades and
> what was the AMTK train--Builder or North Coast
> Hiawatha??
The train pictured is #8, the eastbound Empire Builder. This was in the period when the train ran over Stampede pass tri-weekly via Yakima and Pasco, leaving Seattle in the morning and arriving in Spokane in early evening. Stampede pass was washed out, causing the MILW detours. The North Coast Hiawatha ran via Stevens pass.
> How long did the detour last and where
> was it between?
This detour lasted about 2-1/2 to 3 months. They ran on the MILW from Black River Jct to Easton. I rode the train, next trip after I shot the picture, round trip Seattle to Yakima & return on #7.
> On your MILW photo's in Othello, Was that the last
> clean up train? Were any of the GE's running?
The train pictured was the second to last eastbound cleanup train. The GE's at the sand tower were in service but the 5051 pictured with the SG1 was dead. It had apparently been under repair at the Tacoma shops at the time of shut-down.