Back to Results
Photograph

Northern Pacific line in Green River Valley, circa 1888

Order an Image
This view of the Northern Pacific Railroad along upper reaches of the Green River was taken in the 1880s. It has been suggested that the smoke in the background is the town of Weston, established in 1886, which lay at the base of the heaviest grade on the west side of the mountains, following a drop of 1,000 feet in the 9 miles from the Stampede Tunnel. At Weston westbound trains took a side track allowing to eastbound trains to pass. Weston declined after a large trestle was built over the Green River, replacing the loop of track where Weston was located. Weston is said to have been abandoned in 1914, but appears on USGS topographic maps until 1923 and in Kroll’s 1926 King County plate 63.

Information from Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer’s Monthly Journal, vol. 39, no. 1, p. 254, USGS Historical Topographic maps, Kroll's Atlas of King County.
ID Number: 1986.17.8
Date: Circa 1888
Creator(s): Davidson, I.G. (Isaac G.), Photographer
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard : albumen, b&w ; 16 x 21 cm.
Credit: MOHAI, Frances Kenny Papers, 1986.17.8
Copyright: No Known Copyright
Subjects: Railroads