Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad

The Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad is headquartered in Elma, Washington. The company began operations on August 30, 1997 when the line was purchased from the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway. It is a division of RailAmerica.

The PS&P interchanges with the BNSF and the Union Pacific near Centralia, Washington. From there, the line reaches west to Grays Harbor, Washington and Northeast to Bangor, Washington, a total of nearly 80 miles.
The line operated by the PS&P was purchased from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in August of 1997. Much of the line was originally constructed by the Puget Sound & Grays Harbor Railroad in 1890. The Northern Pacific Railway purchased this line from Summit to Montesano shortly after the PS&GH started operations. The NP then completed a line from Centralia to Elma and from Montesano to Grays Harbor bringing rail service to Grays Harbor in 1892. (The early history of this line may be viewed at The Railroads of Grays Harbor, 1880-1900.)

Photo by Aaron Schwarz

Operations

The Puget Sound & Pacific primarily operates Monday through Friday, interchanging with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific each night at Centralia. This train returns to Elma where it is separated into trains for Grays Harbor and Bangor, both leaving Elma after 7am.

The typical Grays Harbor train consists of 25-50 cars pulled by 2 GP10 locomotives. Common freight loads include lumber, logs and chemicals for the pulp and paper mills. When the train reaches Aberdeen each locomotive is used to work separate jobs. When the local jobs are completed the equipment is again combined into a single train for the return to Elma.

The train running to Bangor must deal with the heavier grades between Elma and Shelton which requires greater motive power. Normally, the Bangor Turn is pulled by 3 locomotives. Center-beam flats and boxcars are also common on this train as are general-service gondolas and special loads for the navy at Bangor.

The PS&P is using frequencies 161.475 and 161.100 for radio communications.

While the PS&P has no passenger operations, excursion trains have been operated over the line many times recently. Photos of one recent trip are available.

Maintenance

Since the creation of the PS&P, the railroad has been gradually improving the maintenance facilities at Elma. A locomotive servicing pit was installed and plans include a shop building over that pit.

A mobile crane is in use on the railroad. The unit appears to be fairly old and was formerly owned by the US Navy. The crane is used primarily for track maintenance and can frequently be viewed in Elma.

While the PS&P does not have major maintenance facilities and has been resourceful in working around this limitation. In the summer of 1998 they exchanged trucks from PS&P 3005 and AZ&CA 3802 in the Aberdeen yard.

The railroad does not have dedicated fuel facilities. Instead, the locomotives are refueled at Elma by a local fuel oil/diesel distributor.

Photo by Bob Peterson (click for larger view)

The Locomotives of the Puget Sound & Pacific

Much of the roster data listed below was provided by Ken Ardinger. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by Mike Davison.

Puget Sound & Pacific 1001 has a build date of April, 1954 and was originally operated by the Illinios Central as number 9009. Later, it became number 8009 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi and MidSouth Rail number 1058. The locomotive was rebuilt at the IC Paducah Shops in April, 1968 and at that time the model designation was changed from GP9 to GP10.

Puget Sound & Pacific 1002 was purchased by the Illinios Central in January, 1957 and was number 9226. It later became number 8226 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi and MidSouth Rail number 1075. The IC converted this locomotive from a GP9 to a GP10 at their Paducah Shops in June, 1970

Puget Sound & Pacific 1003 started work on the the Illinios Central in January, 1957 as number 9210. It later became number 8210 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi and MidSouth Rail number 1055. In June, 1970 the locomotive was rebuilt as a GP10 by the IC Paducah Shops.

Puget Sound & Pacific 1004 was purchased by the Illinios Central in January, 1956 and operated as number 9149. It later became number 8074 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi. In March, 1973 the locomotive was rebuilt by the IC Paducah Shops and designated as a GP10.

Puget Sound & Pacific 3005 is an EMD GP30 and was one of the first locomotives to serve the line. This unit was built in October, 1962 for the Baltimore & Ohio. It was formerly B&O number 6918, CSX number 4239, Ohio Central 4239 and Arizona & California 3005.

Puget Sound & Pacific 3802 is an EMD GP38. This locomotive was built April, 1969 and was originally B&O number 3730. It later operated at GATX number 3730 and Arizona & California 3802.

Puget Sound & Pacific 3877 is an EMD GP38. It was originally Southern Railway 2813 with same number being used after the merger that create the Norfolk Southern. RailAmerica used the locomotive on various short lines until 1999 when the unit was moved the E&N. The E&N renumbered this loco 3877 in early 2000.

Locomotives Previously Leased by the Puget Sound & Pacific

	Montana Rail Link 126 is an EMD GP9 that filled in for PS&P 3005 during recent maintenance. The locomotive is no longer operating on the PS&P. The locomotive was operating in Elma November 12, 1997.
	Willamette & Pacific 1201 is an EMD SW1200 that was leased for a short period. It is formerly Pittsburg and Shawmut number 1866 and while lettered for the W&P is still wearing Pittsburg and Shawmut colors. This photo was taken by Phil Schwiesow (phillisa@myhome.net) in August, 1997.
	Willamette & Pacific 1203 is an EMD SW1200 that was leased for a short period. It is formerly Pittsburg and Shawmut number 1851 and while lettered for the W&P is still wearing Pittsburg and Shawmut colors. This photo was taken by Phil Schwiesow (phillisa@myhome.net) in August, 1997.

update: May 2, 2002.
Author: thognar-NO-SPAM@gmail.com.

	Puget Sound & Pacific 1001 has a build date of April, 1954 and was originally operated by the Illinios Central as number 9009. Later, it became number 8009 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi and MidSouth Rail number 1058. The locomotive was rebuilt at the IC Paducah Shops in April, 1968 and at that time the model designation was changed from GP9 to GP10.
	Puget Sound & Pacific 1002 was purchased by the Illinios Central in January, 1957 and was number 9226. It later became number 8226 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi and MidSouth Rail number 1075. The IC converted this locomotive from a GP9 to a GP10 at their Paducah Shops in June, 1970
	Puget Sound & Pacific 1003 started work on the the Illinios Central in January, 1957 as number 9210. It later became number 8210 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi and MidSouth Rail number 1055. In June, 1970 the locomotive was rebuilt as a GP10 by the IC Paducah Shops.
	Puget Sound & Pacific 1004 was purchased by the Illinios Central in January, 1956 and operated as number 9149. It later became number 8074 for the ICG and Gulf & Mississippi. In March, 1973 the locomotive was rebuilt by the IC Paducah Shops and designated as a GP10.
	Puget Sound & Pacific 3005 is an EMD GP30 and was one of the first locomotives to serve the line. This unit was built in October, 1962 for the Baltimore & Ohio. It was formerly B&O number 6918, CSX number 4239, Ohio Central 4239 and Arizona & California 3005.
	Puget Sound & Pacific 3802 is an EMD GP38. This locomotive was built April, 1969 and was originally B&O number 3730. It later operated at GATX number 3730 and Arizona & California 3802.
	Puget Sound & Pacific 3877 is an EMD GP38. It was originally Southern Railway 2813 with same number being used after the merger that create the Norfolk Southern. RailAmerica used the locomotive on various short lines until 1999 when the unit was moved the E&N. The E&N renumbered this loco 3877 in early 2000.