Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-03-01
ON \ SWTTCHBACR.
Mighty Engines that Ascend the Grades
of the Cascade Ranges.


of the Cascade Ranges.
Your correspondent has just enioved
the thrilling experience, SAYS a letter
from Tacoma, w Washington territory,
of riding over the famous switchback
of the Northern Pacific railroad over
the Cascade mountains in Washing
ton territory. Arriving at Martin.
near the east end of the tunnel, at csc
"a. m, the ordinary locomotive was de-
tachcd from the train of six cars and
gave away to two decapod locomotives.
which ere attached one to each end
If the train One Of these was able 70
draw the train, but two were used to
prevent an accident by the uucoup-
ling of the train or otherwise. These
decapods are iron steeds OF gigantic
proportions, weighing a quarter of a
million pounds apiece, and are the
most powerful ever constructed. The
name decapod signifies ten-footed, and
refers to the ten driving wheels which
transmit the tractive power of these
immense engines. One engine is ca
pablo of hauling 800 gross tons of
l. 100000 pounds Of cars and lading up
a straight grade of 1856 per mile,
The boiler is the largest ever made
for a locomotive, the same being true
of many of the other parts. The To-
comotiyes were made in Philadelphia
Leaving Martin the train moved quick
" up the first steep grade Of about
one-half-a-mile. At this point, having
passed "A switch connecting with "a
track leading in exactly an opposite
direction, but ascending the same
steep grade, the train went reversed,
the pushing engine then becoming the
pulling power This operation was
performed five different times in going
over the mountain.
There are two switches on the east
ern slope of the mountain and three
on the western slope, making a trile
over seven miles of track. The main
line between the termini of switch
back is about three miles. The maxi
mum grade on the switchbacN is 296
feet to the mile. The elevation at the
summit is 3,67S feet
A peculiar state of weather was en-
countered at the summit On the
eastern slope snow was falling IN large
was pouring.
Near the top tine road winds in cir
| Gle always ascending, and at one
! time making a complete double horse
shoe. On the western slope Of the
mountain at one point seven different
| tracks can be seen.
The Stampede tunnel through the
mountains will be 9, $50 feet long, and
il the second longest in the United
| States Worl, on the tunnel from both
ends is progressing rapidly, and Will
/ be completed next june. There IS
about three thousand feet yet to be
| done, and when this IS finished the
picturesque route over the summit
win be abandoned. 1t is not likely.
/ however, the sWitchback will be re-
| moved, as it will be a very necessary
adjunct to the road in case of an un-
expected blockade in the tunnel.
There is a difference Of twcuty-seven
feet in elevation between tine west
portal OF the tunnel and the east portal.
the east portal being the higher. Leay-
| inc the west end of the tunnel the
road winds down the Green river cam
Won and crosses that stream many
times. A more romantic country can
scarcely be imagined. The water OF
the river is Of deep green color, and
looking down into the deep pools a
perfect aquarium is seen. The river
is replctc in falls and rifles, and sim
ply teens in speckled beauties Of large
| size, which are always anxious to de-
your the tempting fly east b. the NUM-
| erous deyotecs of Isaac Walton, who
camp there during the summermouths
It's withal an extremely fascinating
stream, and it is undoubtedly the best
trout stream in the mountains OF
| Washington territory. On the bank.
of the river. about fifteen miles from
the switchback are located the cele.
| brated Green river hot springs, g
| much-notcd summer resort and saui
rttJu