On 19 May 2019 thirty members and guests of the SV&W Clinic attended their second spring train excursion field trip on the Lake Whatcom Railway in Wickersham WA just east of Lake Whatcom and Bellingham.
Our trip was once again coordinated by our excellent Program Coordinator – Susan Gonzales who also somehow gave us a brilliant sunny spring day as well. A special note of appreciation also goes to Jan Clarke who coordinated food orders and provided picnic box lunches for our train riders.
Our trip started in the tiny village of Wickersham which was once a station stop for the Northern Pacific on it’s way to Sumas. The BNSF branch still runs through this area today. The railroad grounds contain a wye and a large engine shop/car shed. We rode behind a vintage Alco S1 diesel which was originally assigned to the Northern Pacific Terminal Company as No 30 in Portland OR.
After boarding we headed out on what was once a branch line along the south shore of Lake Whatcom on the Bellingham Bay and Eastern Railroad Company line that connected Bellingham to the NP Mainline at Wickersham. Our ride took us to the shores of Mirror Lake for a picnic stop and some fun on a pump car for the kids (and adult kids).
Once back at Wickersham, some of us explored the NP No 1070 Class L-9 0-6-0 steam locomotive in the shop and watched the crew turn the Alco on the wye to put the passenger coach away. It was a great day out in the sun and everyone had a good time. Check the Lake Whatcom Railway’s website for their event schedule, it is worth the trip.
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