The Golden Pacific Railroad

November 12, 2006

The Golden Pacific Railroad is a new (2006) tourist operation in Washington state. They brought the former Reading Railroad T1 class 4-8-4 locomotive to Tacoma in November of 2005. The next six months were an interesting period of inquiry, speculation, and often unabashed rumor mongering by the local, and national, railfan community.

After a couple of not very successful test runs, the 2100 was withdrawn from service for maintenace and a retubing of the boiler. The internet was once again saturated with speculation, rumors and inuendo. Several experienced steam locomotive engineers from a local tourist railroad were contracted to the GPRR team and an operating procedure was developed.

After a couple of successful test runs from Freighthouse Square (An interesting shopping center that occupies the former Milwaukee Road freighthouse) up the steep grade to the Midland area, excursion operations commenced in July.

The Golden Pacfic's first season ended October 1st. So far there is no word on whether the season was successful enough to resume in 2007.

The 2100 crossing the trestle on it's approach to Freighthouse Square.

The 2100 at Fredrickson during the lunch stop.

The Golden Pacific's former Amtrack FP40 is used to provide back up power and dynamic brakes on the steep downhill grade on the return to Freighhouse Square.

Some of the comfortable air conditioned coaches.

The 2100 backs down the grade from Fredrickson toward Tacoma for an after lunch photo runby.

Ah... the pay off. A nice photo runby!