Near Skykomish in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Snowsheds Protected the Railway

Iron Goat Trail

— MP 1719.53 —

Snowsheds Protected the Railway Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2015

1. Snowsheds Protected the Railway Marker

Inscription. This massive concrete wall stands as mute testimony to the fearsome conditions that finally drove the Great Northern Railway off the side of Windy Mountain.

Denuded hillsides, unstable from logging and forest fires started by the coal-fired steam engines, increased the number of avalanches, often delaying the trains, sometimes for days.

During the cold, wet winters, a large work force was needed to keep the tracks open. To protect the line from these hazardous conditions, snowsheds were built. In a "combination" type snowshed, a timber roof was built to cover the tracks.

The Great Northern built 6.4 miles of snowsheds of 3 different types on the 9 miles of track between here and Wellington.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 47° 42.968′ N, 121° 10.245′ W. Marker is near Skykomish, Washington, in King County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Stevens Pass Highway (U.S. 2) and Old Cascade Highway, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the Iron Goat Trail, about ½ mile west of the Iron Goat Trailhead just north of US Highway 2. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Skykomish WA 98288, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies. Snowsheds Needed Solid Support (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Route Still in Use (approx. half a mile away); Twin Tunnels Bored Through Granite (approx. 0.6 miles away); Early Skykomish (approx. 8.8 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Iron Goat Trail

Also see . . . Stevens Pass Historic District (Wikipedia). The snow sheds were combination structures of wood and concrete. Reinforced concrete was used for the back wall and timber formed the roof and supporting pillars; the largest shed constructed in this series was 4,100 feet long. The sheds did not block the slides but carried the debris over the right of way. (Submitted on September 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2015

2. Snowsheds Protected the Railway Marker

(concrete snowshed wall in background)

Concrete Snowshed Wall Ruins (<i>beside Iron Goat Trail</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2015

3. Concrete Snowshed Wall Ruins (beside Iron Goat Trail)

(view from near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.