Rich Blake / Photos by Rich unless otherwise indicated
Former Santa Cruz Portland Cement #2 0-4-0T AKA “The Chiggen” under steam at the Northwest Railway Museum.
SV&W members, friends and family were treated to a special shop tour October 24th at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA. This event was set up by our own Susan Gonzales, SV&W Program Coordinator with Northwest Railway Museum Curator Stathi Pappas. Stathi is also owner of the now famous Porter 0-4-0T locomotive affectionately named the “Chiggen” which is being used by the NWRM for their special steam excursion weekends. This locomotive started its service for the NWRM in 2014 and is the first steam operation that the museum has had since 1989.
Stathi Pappas, Northwest Railway Museum Curator and owner/operator of the Chiggen. Photo: Susan Gonzales
Our tour started in the shops where all the restoration efforts take place with a detailed description of the machine and wood shop equipment. There have been considerable machinery equipment upgrades to the NWRM shops in recent years to increase large project restoration capability. Many familiar with the Snoqualmie museum know of the “dead line” outside that contains several what appear to be derelict locomotives and rolling stock. One would think that much of the equipment is unsalvageable but this is not the case. With the machine shop upgrades and the addition of Stathi’s vast experience in locomotive restoration, the NWRM is now a fully capable restoration shop and potentially could become one of the premier shops on the west coast.
Foggy morning outside the Northwest Railway Museum shop and enginehouse, the Chiggen on the left is being prepared for the day’s duties.
Stathi showing off some of the new machinery.
The first locomotive project pulled off the “dead line” for restoration is the former Northern Pacific 0-6-0 No. 924. Built in 1899 by the Rogers Locomotive Works as their serial number 5425, she was built for the St. Paul & Duluth RR as their #74. She later was purchased by the Northern Pacific who renumbered her as their #924. She was part of the L-5 class of NP locomotives that served as yard goats all over the NP system. She served out her days working for the Inland Empire Paper Company in Spokane and retired in the late 1950’s.
NP 924, class L-5, built by Rogers in 1899 had a boiler pressure of 180psi, 51 inch drivers and a tractive effort of 26,000 lbs. Seen here, at Millwood Washington on 4-12-62, as Inland Empire Paper Co. No. 2.
Photo: Stephen Thompson
We were treated to a close inspection of the work in progress on the 924. A lot of work has gone into the boiler restoration including Stathi chopping off the steam dome in order to fabricate a new one. The tender required a completely new tank assembly and one was assembled and riveted in the shop. Truly a 1:1 scratchbuild! This locomotive will be fully restored to operating condition hopefully within the next year and will be a very special addition to the roster.
Former NP #924 currently under restoration in the shop.
924’s tender which is being built from the frame up from new materials. Bill Rutledge looking on.
Of special note also in the shop is the vast array of wood working tools and equipment along with the skilled volunteers who use them. This makes the NWRM unique in that they can not only restore locomotives and related metalworking projects but can also do ornate and detailed woodworking on passenger cars and rolling stock. We then toured the various pieces of historical equipment in the Railway History Center building and took a walk inside the “Chapel Car” with its exquisite woodwork currently in restoration.
Some of the historic wood cars awaiting restoration housed inside the Railway Historic Center structure.
Nicely restored Northern Pacific outside frame boxcar provides a fine example of the NRM’s capabilities with wooden projects.
We capped our trip off with a ride behind the “Chiggen” aboard the beautifully restored Spokane, Portland and Seattle coach #218 along the Snoqualmie to North Bend route enjoying the dry yet cold fall day. The Northwest Railway Museum is well through it’s “rebooting” stage and is a great place for rail fans to visit, work and play with many updates and capabilities to carry it well into the future. To volunteer, donate or just gather information for your next visit, see their website here.
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Coach 218 restored and running on the Snoqualmie line. Photo: Susan Gonzales
SV&W Tour Group and Chiggen Crew, L to R – Doug Lingenbrink, Phil Gonzales, Rich Blake, Bill Rutledge, Al Frasch, Steve Jaffray, Doug Greenwood, Susan Gonzales, Stathi Pappas, Paul Moser, Bob Erley and Zeb Darrah (in cab). Photo: Susan Gonzales
Huge thanks again to Susan Gonzales and Stathi Pappas for coordinating and hosting this great event.
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