Several days ago I asked this group about the raifanning potentials of the Puget Sound & Pacific. A few very helpful answers resulted. So on Monday I set out to drive all portions of the line and photograph what I could. Here's what I found.

I started at about 8:00 a.m. in Chehalis, WA. Nothing was happening. No power was parked. So I went north a few miles to Centralia. Found two BNSF green geeps in the yard. One working, one sitting. The morning sun allowed nothing but backlit photos but in the afternoon I'm sure you can capture these guys. I also found one sleeping California Northern GP15-1 on the PS&P east/west connector.

It was about time for the first southbound Cascade from Seattle so I found a good location southeast of the great looking station. Not only did I get the Cascade (pushed by a Pepsi Can, well, a Pepsi Can at heart), but two northbound UP freights (one pictured).

Click here and here and here.

Highway 12 does a fair job of following the tracks up to Elma, the PS&P headquarters. My scanner came to life as I approached the town but when I got there nothing was happening but at least 5 geeps of assorted colors were sitting behind fences, other objects, and beyond photography range.

So on to Aberdeen. Highway 12 does a poor job of following the tracks most of the way but there are plenty of side roads. I had been noticing for miles that the ROW looks in good shape and there are even stretched of welded rail. Altamont's NW Timetable says track speeds Centralia to Aberdeen range mainly between 25 and 40 mph. So far no moving PS&P trains photographed.

The next town west of an adjacent to Aberdeen is Hoquiam. The PS&P tracks run through town but only the eastern portion is used. The January 1930 Official Guide says the Milwaukee Road had one daily passenger train each way between Seattle and Hoquiam. The Union Pacific did the same but between Centralia and Hoquiam. The Northern Pacific had two each way daily between Seattle and Hoquiam and one round trip local on the branch.

The PS&P main tracks are like a "Y" on its side. The leg points at the Pacific ending at Hoquiam. Elma is in the middle. The lower arm to the southeast goes to Centralia and the upper arm northeast to the Bremerton area. Bremerton is on Puget Sound. Interchange with the UP, BNSF, and Tacoma Rail takes place around Centralia. Aberdeen is a Pacific Ocean Port.

All the track PS&P (RailAmerica) uses today is all ex-NP. All the no trespassing signs say BN property, so I guess they not valid. I didn't test that theory.

You can't get south of the tracks (sun side) in Aberdeen except at two adjacent grade crossings of short roads so photography is difficult. I thought nothing was happening but then I hear horns. I made it to those grade crossings in time to catch two CORP GP38s pulling cars out from the harbor. I didn't see how to get back in the harbor to take pictures.

Click here.

Then I made a 40-mile side trip to look at the Pacific Ocean. When you are that close you have to look. It was totally fogged in. I saw next to nothing. Drove almost to the surf. But found some great steamer clams on the way back to Aberdeen. Now on to Shelton and Simpson Lumber. Route 108 and then 101 and 3 somewhat follow the tracks. Shelton is about halfway up the arm to Bremerton.

The three Simpson Lumber SWs were in the roundhouse behind a chain link fence, over growth, and other stuff! No chance for a picture. But a southbound PS&P double stack train had just arrived in town and began working the yard at Simpson Lumber (about 2 pm). It's nearly impossible to photograph: fences, overgrowth, and guard posts at gates. It took about an hour for the PS&P units to get to a place I could get a grab shot. This must be the train of which Drew posted a picture to the original thread.

Click here.

In downtown Shelton a 3-truck Simpson Lumber Shay, a log car, and a caboose are on display. The caboose is the Chamber's Visitor Center.

Click here and here.

Looking at the Simpson tracks through town, they are used occasionally. It would take some time to figure how to get to the tracks west of town. It looked like most logs are trucked in.

Should I wait until the PS&P crew is through switching and chase the train back to Elma or continue to the north end of the line in the Bremerton area. Well this is my first look at the line so I head north on Highway 3. At Bremerton Junction the line forks. One part goes due north and the other over to Bremerton. Unfortunately both end in Navy Bases with no chance to see either PS&P yard. So it's off to the Kingston/Edmonds Ferry for a beautiful evening ride across Puget Sound to end the day.

And yes I'll go back with more knowledge to make a better day of it. Maybe I'll see one of you out there. PS&P is a real railroad with second generation EMD power. And RailAmerica just announced a study to see if Aberdeen could become another west coast port for export of coal. The port area is clearly underutilized.

I'd appreciate corrections and observations.