The Fiction
The Hockley and Western Railroad (HWRR) straddles the border of Washington State in the US and British Columbia in Canada. Running on former BNSF track the HWRR crosses into Canada near the confluence of the Columbia River and Pend Oreille River, from there the railroad makes into way into BC.
The main customer for the line is in Grand Forks in Canada, Interfor is a lumber mill, shipping out lumber in centre beam flat cars and 60ft box cars. Wood chips are also shipped in woodchip gondolas. The company is the main reason for the lines continued existence.
Not far from Grand Forks is Pacific Abrasives and Supply, situated on the former turning wye the sharply curved spur hosts an array covered hoppers being loaded with various grades of industrial abrasives.
On the border with the US is Carson reload, a single spur used to reload mainly forest products, lumber and utility poles.
The HWRR is a classic class 3 shortline, the roster is made up of second locomotives, patched out with the minimum of effort. 1501 is an ex Conrail MP15, while it might not be the best looking loco in the fleet, it is favourite of crews, not only was it the first loco in the fleet it is also the most reliable.
105 is an ex California Northern GP15, a recent acquisition, still awaiting patching.
The final member of the fleet is the GP11, it is the only loco to have been painted in the livery of the HWRR, currently out service pending an overhaul.
A day on the HWRR
It’s late October, winter is the air and temperatures are dropping. The constant rain is starting to ease up, the threat of snow is not far away. It’s 5am and the crew have just arrived to fire up 1501, an ex Conrail MP15. The engine fires up with, a cloud smoke bursts from the twin stacks, the engineer pats the controls, 1501 never misses a beat. 1501 warms up while the crew check the manifest, a full day’s work is lined up for them.
The crew eases 1501 up to their train, couplers clank together, air lines are connected. 1501 eases forward and stretches the couplers. 2 empty centre beams, a woodchip gondola and 3 covered hoppers. The conductor walks the down the train and jumps onto the ex CP caboose, there is no run around on the line to Grand Forks so the Caboose acts as a shoving platform.
The line runs alongside the Columbia River, its dark waters to one side, on the other the line is flanked by trees, the forest is everywhere, and it is the reason for the line continued existence.
After a couple of hours the train rumbles to stop alongside Interfor, the Caboose is uncoupled and left at the end of the main. The conductor unlocks the switch to the Interfor spur and opens the gate. The train shoves onto the spur, the engine revs increase as it climbs the short, sharp incline. Loaded centre beams and wood chip gondolas are pulled from the spur and replaced with empties. They are left on the main while the crew switch out Carson reload, pulling and replacing the converted bulkhead flats loaded with raw utility poles. They are hooked up to the centre beams and the crew make their way down the line to old wye and Pacific Abrasives. They pull the assortment of covered hoppers and switch in the empties.
The train, now made up of loads means it is time to head back the yard where the loads will interchanged with BNSF in the morning. The crew pull into the yard, the light is starting to fade and the temperature is dropping. 1501 stutters as it is shut down, the crew locks down the train and heads home.
The Railway Butterfly 