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Northern Pacific Mikado 1575 pauses for a
photo below Halfmoon trestle--the location is likely Tunnel 21.2--after helping train 858
to the summit of Lapwait canyon on September 18, 1953.--Henry R. Griffiths, Jr. photo.
Vintage Camas Prairie: Hank
Griffiths, Jr.
A big magazine article on the Camas Prairie was always something I just never got
around to doing. There were always too many other things going on--my work, homelife, and
while I lived in Spokane, Washington from 1991-1994, some of that time was spent working
on a book on Utah's railroads. While
interviewing legendary Idaho photographer Hank Griffiths in 1992 about his photography in
Utah, we happened to discuss his color photography work on the Camas Prairie. Hank was one
of the few to get up and shoot the railroad on Kodachrome transparencies during the steam
era, and he graciously allowed me to borrow several of his photos for a Camas Prairie
project--whenever I'd get around to publishing it. Years passed, the Utah book was
completed, and Hank, sadly, passed away. But I still retained those CSP photos, and it
seemed a shame not to share them with someone. So, let this website be the equivalent of a
big, splashy article in Trains or Railfan or CTC Board. . . and here's a selection of Hank
Griffiths photographs that only hint of the magnificence and quality of his body of work.
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Braving cinders in the eye, we look forward
from what's probably a Northern Pacific wooden coupla caboose as train 858 claws upgrade
out of Culdesac on the 3% to Reubens. Ahead of us eight cars is the cut-in helper,
Northern Pacific "W" class mike, 1575. Twenty-six ahead of that is UP MacArthur
2-8-2 2211. The date is September 18, 1953, and GP9s which will put an end to this steam
show are a year away. |
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Another day, another amazing trip. This
time, Hank's riding a Headquarters turn, riding an empty flatcar three from the head-end.
We've turned the corned and cleared the First subdivision switch as we bark upgrade out of
Orofino, Idaho, helper on the rear end. On the left is likely Riverside Lumber
Company; note the log flume on the far right of the photo, descending the hill. Back then,
Orofino was a hell-raisin' logging town. . . today, it's known mainly as the home of one
of Idaho's mental hospitals. In fact, the high school mascot is the "Maniacs"! |
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Midway on the climb up Orofino creek, our
train stops at Rudo tank to fill the tenders. The engineer is on the ground as the fireman
tips the spout into the tender of MacArthur 2703, lettered for UP subsidiary Los Angeles
& Salt Lake. After the road locomotive is topped off, we'll pull ahead and water the
helper. |
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The 2703 and train lope up Orofino creek.
I'm not sure about the date of these photographs; it could possibly be in the last days of
steam operation. Note the stenciling data on the flatcar ahead--it mentions a 5-26-54
date. Could this be as late as the summer of 1954? |
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Now we're riding the helper out of
Headquarters. Could this be later that same day? This is a view back as we depart the
switchback at the east end of CSP trackage. Beyond the yard is a wye; beyond that,
Potlatch tracks head off into the woods on their own logging railroad. We're on a UP
MacArthur; approximately 15 cars back appears to by an NP Mike ahead of a yellow CA-1
caboose. |
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Climbing up the 2.2% to Summit, we turn the
corner above Headquarters and get a great look at the logging community below, including
company homes up behind the logging shops and railroad. Is anyone an expert on timber
species? Is this white pine, back when it was still plentiful and not yet wiped out by
pine beetle? |
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Hank's young daughter, Mary Lou, poses
beside NP doodlebug B-14 on train #343 at Craigmont. Hank took his daughter for a short
ride--from Cottonwood to Craigmont--so they could claim they rode over Lawyer's Creek
bridge. The daily train from Lewiston to Grangeville and back came off in 1955. |
Blair's World Camas
Prairie Home Milltown Second Subdivision Woods
Railroad Vintage Links, etc.
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