The Last Simpson Train to Mill 5 June 9, 2015

What was billed as "The Last Log Train to Dayton" made a special 19 mile round trip move to and from the Dayton Dry Sort yard with the purpose of retrieving remaining rolling stock which had been stranded since the end of 2013 when the mainline had been embargoed out of Shelton to the log trains. A group of Simpson company officials also rode in the caboose, which served as a private business car on the trip. There were actually two trips that day, a final round trip in the afternoon was made to fetch a string of Center beam lumber cars after which the sound of the black, red and white switchers' five chimes would fade, never again to be heard at Dayton. Simpson Railroad became a fallen flag on June 30th, 2015 when Sierra Pacific Industries of California assumed ownership of the Simpson Mills in Shelton, Wa along with the railroad's engines and rolling stock. Track-side and cab views.

[@miketreadwell5654]

I was in charge of the Simpson RR for the last 10 years of my 30 year career-What an experience working with a great bunch of employees.I had the best job in logging

[@davidbuben3262]

Hey Mike, Buben here. Hope all is well. You probably don't remember me as I was low man before you retired but made leadman/dispatcher by the end. And yup, best job ever and best bunch of men I ever worked with. Sure miss it.

[@mikeparker5200]

The train was hauling a 988 log stacker from Shelton out to Dayton when it hit some low power lines in Shelton which tore out many power lines.

[@mafarnz]

Great video Joel. Last runs are no fun. Glad you were at least able to film yours in daylight.

[@brianbrehmeyer3929]

12/10/17 ----A volunteer group of ex Simpson railroaders and others have been working on the tracks this year and is trying to put an excursion ride together. I just heard that they've moved the 1200 Locomotive and the American Locomotive Crane to the Dayton Sort Yard.

[@caseman7896]

Its sad to see this happen. I was so disappointed to see this. Some people will likely think that this railway might become a tourist railway but you will never beat a logging and lumber hauling railway. The only hope we got is that someday a new logging railway --a shortline logging railway will come back somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

[@jamesd2128]

Heartbreaking to see the demise of a logging railway. We lost our Nimpkish line up on Northern Vancouver Island in Late 2017, ending one hundred years of log hauling. Sickening to think of all those loads being moved by truck now, certainly not my idea of progress.

[@Tcostello105]

Just read an article about this railroad in Trainz Magizine. Great video its sad to see such a great railroad run its last train. Very well captured.

[@georgesolley4507]

Tcostello105 tub

[@washingtonnorthern]

. I lived in Shelton for a year after college in 1984 and remember watching the railroad, wondering then how long it would survive. Thanks for taking the time to document and share Joel.

[@TMandN]

Great video, too bad it had to end! Thank you for capturing this for all to see! Enjoyed very much! :-)

[@chuckyko]

Beautiful scenery!!! I would think some engineers were tempted to stop the train and jump in the river that was running next to the line!!!

[@davidbuben3262]

We were tempted, yes but were on the job. Sometimes we did make an emergency stop to um...relieve ourselves. Har har.

[@rjl110919581]

thank you for great detail video of railroad operation

[@robertjackson5966]

Wonderful Video thanks for posting have a great day

[@burnuts007]

Nice video I love the old units! Good job! I subbed up

[@SidneyPratt]

Thanks, great video to bad it' closing.

[@Willysmb44]

Great video. So sad that it's all done now. I never went out there to photo it, either...

[@LastExile1989]

Love the horn

[@homersimpson9417]

One of the worst losses in my life

[@gcuneo]

AWESOME VIDEO!

[@mikeparker5200]

I worked at mill 5 loading lumber until June 15 2015 the day Mill 5 closed.

[@stampycatfan01lol]

I hope somebody will purchase those switchers one day. They're too good to go to waste. :(

[@brianbrehmeyer3929]

The 1201 and 1202 locomotives were seen doing switching in Centralia/Chehalis. The 900 and 1200 were donated to a volunteer group trying to operate an excursion train to Dayton.

[@ducks_love_bread]

man these conductors had a beautiful route I wounldn mind at all I am planning to hike the same stretch of rail next week that and the goldsbourgh creek runs next to it on and off for quite a wayse and during fishing season the trout are awsome

[@patricknoveski6409]

DirtPoorFarmer. Did they save it, or is it gone forever?

[@ducks_love_bread]

gone the mill that owned it closed 216 people lost jobs they are building a new mill on the old site but they wont use the train the tracks are already overgrown there are even a few trees that have sprouted on the track

[@lynneferencik1378]

hope you had a great trip!

[@glenkelley6048]

YA SURE DID BLOW THAT WHISTLE A LOT.

[@davidbuben3262]

Regulations Glen. Even then people still tried to beat us through the xing

[@jasonpeachrick2037]

The sounds at 5:55 are so damn relaxing.

[@brucetharpe762]

such an ironic scene. In the end, the train passes the baton to the Semi Truck. The Changing of the Guard. The horn from engine 900 sounds VERY SAD!!!!!

[@davidbuben3262]

We could actually make those horns sound forlorn. Thing of the past as modern engine's only have a button to push. No signature. No personality.

[@ETtech2006]

That’s so sad. I wanted to go railfaning there. Who knows? Maybe some day it’ll turn into a tourist railroad😕🚂

[@lukehartel6978]

Awesome horn

[@railroadjay1]

Would be a great tourist/ museum railroad

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

That's exactly what it has become!

[@mwilliams6242]

Great video! Are the rails going to be left in place or removed?

[@kyleb06]

M Williams M Williams left in place. Apparently, as of 12/10/17 some ex-Simpson workers were maintaining the track. The #1200 and the American Locomotive Crane have been moved to the Dayton Sort Yard.

[@gingerrail7368]

What is the background behind them not using the line anymore. r the track need repair or is it something else.

[@MasCoRailbuff]

+Ginger Rail with the sale of the Simpson lumber mills to Sierra Pacific Industries, everything has been shut down until the new owners build a new mill in Shelton. They are not interested in continuing the railroad, however there are locals preservation efforts underway for the roundhouse and perhaps part of the railroad re: museum operation..

[@spencerwood2093]

I want to see lots of logging and lumber trains that will go from Vancouver to Green River to North Platte to Omaha to Norfolk.

[@w.rustylane5650]

Are those ALCO switcher engines? If so, what type, i.e., S2 and S12?

[@californiarailfan5342]

They are EMD SW1200's

[@mrserious55]

so sad

[@SidneyPratt]

I'll be looking for a RE after I got the lottery!

[@drsu9665]

looks alot like the van island bc mill route.

[@jefferyschirm4103]

When unions and gov. regulations send our jobs overseas

[@davidbuben3262]

Absolutely correct Jeffrey. Gov. Regs and insurance destroyed it all.

[@robertgift]

Flagger too lazy to hold up hisign? Two flaggers at one grade crossing and none athe other? If so, what dopes. Why were the gates not descending? Well done video.

[@davidbuben3262]

Yup we were a bunch of dopes Robert. The lazy flagger was the rail boss and more than likely could still work you half to death even on your best day and his worst. The traffic was already stopped. I have said enough. Because you have no idea what you're looking at or talking about