Washington 2

Anacortes Railroad

This little engine is listed in the books as a 0-4-0 F, for fireless. I've been told that in the beginning it was actually a compressed air engine, as oposed to a stored steam engine. However, not any more. The current owner, Tommy Thompson has converted it to burn the bark of fir trees. He also had to make it a 0-4-4 engine to carry the weight of the fuel. He used to operate the little 18 inch gauge train on 3/4 mile of track near the waterfront in downtown Anacortes every summer weekend. They would turn it on a turntable at each end.

I use the past tense with sadness as I just found out that Tommy passed away this past winter and the train runs no more. I'm told that the engine and cars are currently in storage and their future is very much up in the air. We should all hope that it will run again in the future.

 

Bringing it out out of the engine house

 

At the Station

Heading for downtown

On the turntable

Back to the station

 

The cab is large enough for two adults and a child.

 

 

 

Back to Washington Gallery 1

 

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All Images Copyright © 1998 - 1999
-- Dale L. Brown Jr.