Supporting Cast!

Milwaukee Road, Enumclaw Washington, July 14, 1960. When we think of the Milwaukee Road we envision electric trains humming along on DC current at such locations Pipestone Pass, crossing the Columbia at Othello, Beverly, Washington, Black River Junction and Van Asselt Seattle.

But there was a big supporting cast of “yard goats” – switchers – that make and break tonnage for the stars to haul. They shuffle here and there, doing this and that, driven only by a “switch list.” And few photographers, if any, pay attention to them.

I captured one in, of all places, Enumclaw Washington, with the optional “church spire” exhaust stack!

Railroad Stuff: GMD SW1200, 1200hp, built as MILW 1639, 1/54, sn: 18760, Class 12ES. Renumbered 704, and then renumbered MILW 616 as seen here.