Monthly MEETING

March 18th. 5:00 P.M.

at the former Toledo Community Center now AWPPW Hall

Yaquina Shortline

published monthly

by

Yaquina Pacific Railroad

Historical Society

100 N.W. “A” Street PO Box 119

Toledo, OR 97391 (541) 336 5256

yprhs@casco.net

March 2007 Vol V-III

Estate Sale Huge Success Louise Webb holds a couple of the collectables, among the many house wares, appliances and furniture when YPRHS members conducted Estate Sale for Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Dangler. (More on Page 2)

Here’s a great read. . .The White Cascade The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America’s Deadliest Ava-lanche, March 1, 1910. Note the mail bag pickup arm (we’re still look-ing for one for our RPO), and the “Letter Box” door (we have). (More on this incredible story on page 2. )

Notable Non-Chapter Events (Reprinted, with thanks, to The Train-master , Pacific Northwest Chapter) April 7, Easter Saturday Brunch, Elgin to Kimmel 4hours RT; May 13, Mother’s Day Brunch, Wallowa to Kimmel, 4.5 hrs. RT, Eagle Cap Excursion Train; Adults $70.00, $60 senior, $50 children. Call 800.323.7330 May 18-20 Gorge Rail 2007-The Dalles, www.dogcaught.com/gorgerail May 26-Sept 16-Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, weekends and special events, Garibaldi-Rockaway Beach-503.842.7972-www.ocsr.net May 26-Sept.-Chehalis-Centralia Rail-road NEW! -1916 Baldwin 2-8-2T steam engine runs every Saturday and Sunday, 12 miles, @ 1PM & 3PM, $18, Sunday special 18 mile run to Ruth departing 5 P.M. Plus special events, dinner train, lodging packages, more info at www.ccrra.com or 360.748.9593. June 3-Sept 2-Willow Creek Railroad –every Sunday 11 AM to 3 PM, Antique Powerland Museum, Brooks, Oregon, www.willowcreekrr.org June 9-Cruisin’ Sherwood, SP 4449 visits downtown Sherwood, Oregon

Correction in last issue: Under the section of “So you think you know something about trains”, the second question was “What was a centenary?” Whoops, the word should have been catenary.

Photo From The White Cascade by Gary Krist

Letter Box

Yaquina Shortline

a great read…. The White Cascade The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America’s Deadliest Avalanche. Gary Krist Henry Holt, 318pp,$26 (excerpt of review by Mark S. Luce, Los Angeles Times, January 2007) “...On March 1, 1910, after six days of cease-less sow up in Stevens Pass in the craggy Cascade mountains, warmer temperatures brought in the rain. And the preternatural winter lightning. And the rumbling thunder. Off to the side of the main Great Northern Rail-way tacks, perched above a steep canyon and below a sparsely wooded snow packed mountainside, rested two trains-the Seattle Express (from Spokane) and the Fast Mail (from St. Paul). The trains had been in that position, stranded, for six days, despite pleas from the passengers to get them moving. At 1:42 a.m. physics happened. the moisture from the rain soaked into snow tens of feet deep. The weigh became too much. An ava-lanche half a mile wide barreled down the mountainside and smashed in the cars, hurl-ing them down the rest of the mountain in a twisted amalgam of steel, steam, wood and flesh. The official body count tallied 96 peo-ple, including several unidentified railroad

laborers, making it the most horrendous avalanche accident in U.S. History. Gary Krist’s smart page turner, “The White Cascade” documents this disaster with verve, humanity and purpose. Krist’s story goes beyond the recounting of a tragic event and becomes a study of individual heroism and failure, corporate avarice and era’s misguided faith that humans and their technology could tame Mother Nature. Throughout the six- day ordeal, Krist returns to James H. O’Neill, a tireless, up-by-the-bootstraps railway superintendent who must balance Great Northern’s fiscal need to keep the trains moving with the realities of the weather in the Cascades .To research the book Krist mined personal journals of the passengers, telegrams, letters, the inquest testimony, later court proceedings, newspapers and a veritable library of books on railroading.”

Estate Sale—A Success with many members involved in the sorting, selling and moving items. A committee made up of members, Ellie and Marlyn Kaps, Bill and Cathy Bain, Jim and Louise Webb, Glenn Harris,

Bob Deming, Brian and Tammy Kaps spent several hours sorting, labeling and then being on hand for the actual sale. As reported earlier, this took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dangler, who have moved to Vancouver, Washington. They were present on one occasion along with son Dave, to help the committee place appropriate values on the many items. They were available by phone for ongoing pricing, support and helpful identification of many of the older pieces. The first day of the sale, Friday, March 2, the rain was coming in sheets. This did not deter the 20 or so antique dealers who showed up at 8:00 a.m. even though the advertisement said SALE STARTS AT 9:00—NO EARLY BIRDS. Saturday was drier, and probably over the two day event, some 200 folks came through the house. It was almost a back breaker for Marlyn, when he agreed to move a giant side-by-side refrigerator across the street and good willed as he always is, helped the young couple move it into their house after all doors had

been removed (yes house and refrig!) The Danglers have donated a percentage of the sale to YPRHS for the ongoing mission of the organization. Thanks to all who participated, and

especially the Danglers for allowing us to help them “downsize”. Members and Volunteers

Get your timecards into Timekeeper Ellie Kaps be-fore or at each meeting. It’s important, please.

List of some items still FOR SALE Available Now Caboose marker light–AdLake Excellent condition $325 2 Switch stand Targets- $100@ Craftsman Radial Arm Saw $250, Utility trailer $125, some cut glass and many pieces of the collectable grey granite ware. If you have any interest in see-ing these items in person or by e-mail picture, call the YPRHS office.

“Give me enough Swedes and Bourbon and I can build a railroad to hell.” James Hill, President of Great Northern PAGE 2

Yaquina Shortline

Officers President - Bill Bain

Vice President- Richard Cullison Secretary– Charlotte Paulsen

Treasurer- Allan Preece

National Director-Jim Webb Chapter Historian – Lloyd Palmer

Staff Conductor - Tom Chandler

C.C.B.W.- Len Freidberg

PAGE 3

Appointees Time Keeper- Ellie Kaps

Senior Director- Harry Dangler Large Engines -Jerry Bisson Small Engines - Lane Plotner

List of Officers, Staff and Appointees(to date)

Yaquina Pacific Railroad 160th. Meeting– February 18, 2007– AWPPW Hall, Toledo, Oregon Meeting Called to Order by Pres. Bill Bain, V-P Richard Cullison led Pledge of Allegiance. Members present:: Alan & Charlotte Paulsen, Jim Webb, Marlyn and Ellie Kaps,Glenn Harris, Lane Plotner, Bob Deming, Lloyd Palmer. Guests: Roger Culpepper and Cliff Steele, Staff: Tom chandler, Leonard Freidberg. Treasurer, Allan Preece excused due to illness. Correspondence circulated: Newsletters, “Around Toledo”:, “Gondola Gazette”, “The Trainmaster”. thank you letter from Timothy Johnson and Steve Wilson of West Coast Bank for tour of YPRHS led by Conductor. Timekeeper Ellie corrected 2006 volunteer hours to 1,076.25 from earlier reported of 1,048.25. January shows 78 hours. (Get your time cards in early. ) Old Business: Hatton building two sheets of tin repaired for $350. Jim Webb questioned our Insurance coverage on our prop-erties that are in that building? Tom to check out. As we are receiving space rent-free MSP to pay for roofing repair. Dangler/YPRHS Estate Sale, scheduled for March 2 & 3, 9-4:00 P.M. Discussion ensued about sale of such things as the col-lectables such as the “Precious Moments” dolls. Committee will be working on Monday 19th. to price and sort items. Ad in paper. Train Order Board/Semaphore; opportunity being pursued by Lloyd Palmer. It is presently owned by Western Oregon Model Railroaders (Brian Brown contact). They had set a price of $1,000. As group is disbanding all assets were to go to PNWC. However, after checking their by-laws they can sell item. A letter of interest has been sent on behalf of YPRHS. If we receive as a donation then we will still have to figure on how to transport. Could cost up to $400. MSP to accept if offered. Project Reports: RPO renovation coming along with Leonard doing good job at picking away at painting etc. Narrow Gauge Disconnects, Glenn reports that he trucked construction pieces along with three beams from One Spot to Sheridan for “soaking”. It will take about 2-3 weeks. He has asked them to donate the cost ($200) of treating the timbers. They will do so with a letter from YPRHS. Membership renewal Status: Tom reports a new member, but still are about 18 non-renewals from 2006. Names printed in last Yaquina Shortline. New Business: 2007-2008 Budget. In Treasurer’s absence, Tom presented the proposed ‘07-’08 Budget to be sent to Lincoln County along with the budgets from three other historical societies in the county. All societies are requesting a 3% increase. (County budgets are approved in April-May timeline.)Website Design Status. Our YPRHS website was originally designed by Greg Wood and maintained by him. Staff is considering bids from two Web Designers, Diana Martin in Newport (her opening bid was for $1500-$2,000) and a Toledo company that is looking to include ours as a class project she is doing. First need is $100 to proceed for domain acquisition. Our new site will be YaquinaPacificRR.org. MSP. Ca-boose Century Club. To help celebrate the 100th. birthday of the YPRHS Southern Pacific Caboose #573, a Caboose Century Club Sustaining Membership will be launched in April with the goal of 100 con-tributors donating $100@. Special commemorative printing of a painting by local artist Michael Gibbons or someone similar, being considered for all donors to this project. Railroad Electrical Signal Cabinet being offered to YPRHS by David Livingston of Endex Engineering of Corvallis. Similar to one we have in storage but without standpipe. MSP to accept. Richard would be willing to transport. Inaugural Railroad Days can we consider expanding on the Toledo Antique Street Fair which is sched-uled for Sunday August 5, to have a RAILROAD DAYS event on Saturday the 4th? Speeders are sched-uled to be here for an overnight. What are the possibilities of running an excursion? A dinner train? We’ve been at this for some 12 years. Maybe we could pull something together. Tom to have a tentative schedule at next meeting. Program: Cliff Steele, a member of the High Desert Museum and in charge of the operation of their saw mill had come to town to deliver a couple of magnetos to Lane for repair. He gave a humorous presentation about how volunteers work in a larger museum. Not too different. HDM has a large speeder once owned by GN then SP then Weyerhaeuser. It needs serious attention and it does not appear HDM has interest in restoring. He believes we would do a good job with restoration. Are we interested? Announcements: Bob Deming suggested we have time card rack up in RPO. (Can do.) Tom reported on “World’s Greatest Hobby Show” (model trains) in Portland that it was huge and had great attendance. Meeting adjourned 7:11 P,M, - Respectfully submitted, Charlotte Paulsen, Secretary.

Welcome New 2007Members!

Participating

Quinn & Kari Murk Siletz, Oregon

William & Margaret Chandler San Jose, California Leonard Freidberg

Toledo, Oregon

Supporting Jerry & Nancy Hildenbrand

Corvallis,Oregon

Sustaining West Coast Bank

Toledo, Oregon John Myers, III

Corvallis, Oregon

Silver Spike Larry, Lisa & Justus Davis

Toledo, Oregon

Golden Spike Harry & Millie Dangler Vancouver, Washington

We Miss YOU !?

Aadland, Bisson, Cawrse Johnson, Karlsen, Moore Philo, Sax, Seyb. March 31 is FINAL DAY to renew YPRHS & NRHS If our records are incorrect,

please call office.

Perpetual Membership Categories Participating Member (includes membership in NRHS for 2007) $38 plus $8.00 for each additional family member Supporting Member - Annual Gift of an individual or business $50 Sustaining Member- Annual Gift of an individual or business $100 Bronze Spike Member-Annual Gift of an individual or business $250 Silver Spike Member– Annual Gift of an individual or business $500 Golden Spike Member –Annual Gift of an individual or business $1,000 Centennial Caboose Club Sustaining Memberships will go on sale in April with the Birthday Cake being cut at the YPRHS Railroad Days, August 4-5, 2007. Watch this publication for your opportunity to become a “CCC Member.”

This heavyweight Pullman car once operated on the SP&S is on a side track next to the former freight office in Corvallis. Several years ago the building was con-verted into a wonderful overnight lodging facility by Dave Livingston of ENDEX Engineering, Inc. So what is the future of the Cromwell?

The greatest good you can do for your YPRHS in 2007 is to sponsor a new member!

Page 4

Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society 100 N.W. “A” Street—POB 119 Toledo, Oregon 97391

Important Dates March 18—Y.P.R.H.S. mtg, bring a friend April 15– CCC Memberships go on Sale! August 4 – Inaugural Railroad Day August 5– Toledo Antique Street Fair

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

100 YEARS YOUNG!