Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-08
ON 4 SWTTCHBA
Mighty Engines that Ascend the Grades
of the Cascade Ranges.

1
of the Cascade Ranges
Your correspondent has just enjoyed
the thrilling experience, says a letter
from Tacoma. 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-
tached from the train of six ears and
gave away to two decapod locomotives,
which were attached one to each end
II the train. One of these was able to
draw the train, but two were used to
prevent an accident by the uncoup-
| ing OF the train or otherwise. These
decapods are iron steeds of gigantic
proportions, weighing a quarter of
million pouAds apiece, and are the
| most powerful ever constructed. The
name decapod signifies ten-footed, and
/ refers to the ten driving-whee which
transmit the tractlve power of these
immense engines. One engine is ca
| pable of hauling 500 gross tons of
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-
cOmotives were made in Philadelphia.
Leaving Martin the train moved quick
ly up the first steep grade of about
one-half-a-mile. At this point, having
passed switch connecting with a
| track leading in exactly IN 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 q trifie
over seven miles of track. The main
line between the termini of switch
back is about three miles. The maxi
mum grade on the switchback 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
flakes, while on the western side rain
was pouring.
Near the top the road winds in a 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 $3.50 feet long, and
is the second longest in the United
States. Work 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
will be abandoned. 1t is not likely,
however, the switchback will be re-
moved, as it viii be very necessary
adjunct to the road in case of an I'M
expected blockade in the tunnel.
There is a difference of twentv-seyen
feet IN elevation between the west
portal of the tunnel and the east portal,
the east portal being the higher. Leav-
ing the west end of the tunnel the
road winds down the Green river can
yon 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 replete in falls and rifles, and SIM
ply teens in speckled beauties of large
size, which are always anxious to de-
your the tempting fly cast by the num-
erous devotees of Isaac Walton, who
camp there during the summer months.
It is withal an extremely fascinating
stream, and it is undoubtedly the best
trout stream in the mountains of
Washington territory. On the banks
of the river, about fifteen miles from
the switchback, are located the cele-
brated Green river hot springs, a
much-noted summer resort and sani-
tar.Um.