Simpson Railroad's Final Days June 12, 2015

This once great shortline logging railroad was running some last clean up and switching chores in Shelton in preparation for cessation of operations that would occur on the 30th of June. This film includes a long segment in which a string of ballast cars are retrieved from Knights Siding. The camera is shaky due to being hand-held during a rough ride on the back of the switch engine. Cab rides on the 1201 and 1202 and some trackside angles along with a turntable segment.

[@bengone3349]

There is something special about SW switchers. I like the simple look and the open windows.

[@terrywitkowski6937]

to me it's always sad to see ANY rr go under. it was great just walking down the line on quiet days. Mr. Hawthorn is doing-us all a great service by showing these videos.

[@dave3216]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching your video. Very well done. I'm looking forward to watching more of your stuff. Thanks

[@backwoods5039]

My uncle bill ran the 900 engine for years and my grandpa was on the 1201.. Shelton ain't the same...

[@kenkramer6529]

Nice that you were there to document this, Joel.

[@troysimpson9550]

AS a Simpson I approve of this railroad and its Great color scheme!

[@bushranger51]

Can see why they closed the railroad, it looked like there hadn't been any maintenance on the track for decades, and they expected the trains to use it every day. In some sections it looked so badly warped and out of alignment, it was a wonder any trains could have used it at all. In other videos on the same subject I have noted that most trains rocked and rolled all over the place, it was a wonder they all stayed upright.

[@woodystubb686]

Iv worked on this railroad for a short time, glad I was a part of this history

[@MikeG42]

This is a great video. I love this cab ride ! 😁

[@user-ek3em5km5r]

boy oh boy, those days are long gone. i use to ride the train to grizdale with the step dad.

[@MisterEspee]

Great Video!! If I'm remembering right Simpson had the last logging railroad in Washington

[@bearbon2]

Nice enjoyable video. It felt like I was actually riding along like my old days as a switchman. Kinda sad though seeing how the operation was shutting down. I can visualize those yards full of logs at one time.

[@cab710]

that was a great video, love to see all

[@JoeyPlaysStuff]

On the day that I was born I never imagined this happened while I was at the hospital 😢

[@cartersol38]

I went back a year later and took a look at this section and there was brush and an assortment of young Douglas Firs growing up in the right of way and between the rails. The ties were also in bad shape.

[@RailroadScannerMan15]

that was the best part of the video. the manually operated turntable.

[@VancouverIsland1]

That rail line is good for a tour train rides now, Thanks for posting

[@Trainlover1995]

+Cars show Island For sure. If they can find a steam locomotive and a few passenger cars (they could, of course, also convert a few flat cars), they have the makings of a successful tourist operation.

[@westernwashingtonrailprodu6339]

They're actually using the locomotives depicted in the video as power for the excursions on newly-rebuilt track.

[@patricknoveski6409]

@@westernwashingtonrailprodu6339 so they still use. It? Tourists?

[@randydandy7571]

I saw this in a magazine. Cool video

[@alansklenar2848]

It's a very rare sight to see SW1200's with dynamic brakes

[@BDawgOfficial]

What kind of horn is on the engine leading the ballast cars? (I don't know if it was 1201 or 1202.)

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU FOR SHARE DETAIL VIDEO REAL OPERATION ON SMALL RAILROAD SAD SEE CLOSED DOWN OPERATION

[@frostgfx]

6:20... Eng needs a new watch band... Great video and so sad to see another historic part of the logging/lumber industry fade away. They had a lot of rolling stock so wonder what will happen with that... sell it off or scrap it all? What were those cut little ballast cars used for??? Seem rather small for US railway track work...?

[@YardLimit]

Nice video. You have a new subscriber!

[@richardwilson3400]

What is fec 404 doing in Washington state? The blue locomotive is fec 404 as a kid growing up into adult hood in southeast Florida and being a railfan you could say that I grew up with that locomotive.

[@SWITCHMASHER]

Did business drop off that much that caused it to shut down or did management, due to lack of maintenance close it. Any chance it could be restarted.

[@FaFromCastle]

Guys the railroad returned

[@eottoe2001]

Watching this again, this is a sad video.

[@RailroadScannerMan15]

interesting cars at 4:38. are those used for specific aggregates?

[@MasCoRailbuff]

Used for spreading ballast.

[@RailroadScannerMan15]

Thanks for confirmation Joel. Mike

[@thomasabramson100]

Why did they go out of business?????

[@rs2mike]

👍

[@orgcoast]

Joel: What happens to all the centerbeam cars when a shortline like this is no more? PS---A very good video.

[@MasCoRailbuff]

+orgcoast oregon All of those centerbeams (except for the gray ones) were filled with product from the mill and shipped out on the class one railroad. The gray ones are owned by Simpson, custom-sized cars and were exclusively used to haul rough cut lumber between the two mills. They are still in storage with the log car fleet at the waterfront in Shelton. Eventually those might be auctioned off or sold or some kept for preservation purposes.

[@athopi]

1202 is an SW1500?

[@thomasboese3793]

No, SW 1200 www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=STC&mid=111 Enjoy exploring

[@dumdum7786]

Is there a chance that this railroad will ever reopen?

[@MasCoRailbuff]

go to Simpsonrailroad.org for recent updates

[@LRF152]

25:40 sounds like an old BC rail horn?

[@MattsTrainArchive]

Yes, it is a Nathan K5H, which is what BCR used a many of their locomotives,

[@Maine_Railfan]

Seems odd they would shut down since lumber is in high demand.

[@alexandergrube6437]

the logging mills probably ran dry

[@b.g.bbeezo100]

They probably have a pre set amount of acres they can cut down

[@GMC6523]

are the trains are still there yet?

[@thomasboese3793]

Out of business, since 2015...

[@GMC6523]

@@thomasboese3793 would it be nice if they went back in business

[@thomasboese3793]

@@GMC6523 If a local group can raise funding, they are trying to run the last ten miles as a museum line,

[@GMC6523]

@@thomasboese3793 oh

[@CrazyKaboose]

Is the line abandoned???

[@patricknoveski6409]

????

[@patricknoveski6409]

How many yrs were they in business? Heartbreaking !

[@CrazyKaboose]

Patrick Noveski I think they were around for about 20 years? I don’t really know

[@johndoe-zk1yu]

was this due to foreign trade or just the economy?

[@richardcline1337]

Probably a bit of both. We seem to be stupidly sending all of our industry out of country and slowly but surely killing off everything that once made this the greatest country on earth. Now we are at the complete mercy of other countries and that is just WRONG! We have the work force and equipment just sitting idle. WHY not use it?

[@chuckyko]

I think people miss the point of why lumber railroads go out of business. For one, trucks are much more efficient, and two, some lumber companies just aren't big enough for the associated railroad to make money.