WAUStanleyWilliamPHColl103.xmlGuide to the Great Northern Railroad Cascade Tunnel Construction photographs approximately 1925-1927Great Northern Railroad Cascade Tunnel Construction photographsSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries©2008 (Last modified: 1/17/2025)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH103, PH2025-003Stanley, WilliamGreat Northern Railroad Cascade Tunnel Construction photographsapproximately 1925-19272 folders (79 photographic prints)Collection materials are in English.Photographs of Great Northern Railway Eight Mile Tunnel construction at Mill Creek Valley

Later called the Cascade Tunnel, the Great Northern Railway Eight-Mile Tunnel is located in the Cascade Range of Washington, at Stevens Pass. The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway owns and operates the tunnel that they built to secure protection from avalanches and eliminate the cost of maintenance on the track. Tunnel construction started in January 1926 at three locations: Scenic on the west slope of the Cascade Mountains, Berne on the east slope, and Mill Creek valley in the middle. At Mill Creek, a 622-foot vertical shaft was dug, two and a half miles from the east portal. Construction was completed in January 1929.

Organized into 2 accessions.

Accession No. PH0103, William Stanley photograph album, 1925Accession No. PH2025-003, Great Northern Railroad Cascade Tunnel Construction photographs, approximately 1927

Photographs of the construction of the Great Northern Railway Eight-Mile Tunnel in the Cascade Mountains.

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Donor: William Stanley, 1986. PH2025-003 purchased from Fairlook Antiques, October 2024.

William Stanley album processed by Leah Pistorius.

Stanley album was taken apart because it had deteriorated; the original order was retained.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Cascade Tunnel (Wash.)--PhotographsGreat Northern Railway Company (U.S.)Railroad tunnels--Washington (State)--Stevens Pass--PhotographsTunnels--Design and constructionPhotographsTransportation

 

Accession No. PH0103: William Stanley photograph album, approximately 19251 folder (49 photographs)

Scope and Content: Photographs of the construction of the Great Northern Railway Eight-Mile Tunnel in the Cascade Mountains, 1925.

Physical/Technical Access: Album was taken apart because it had deteriorated; the original order was retained.

Restrictions on Access: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

View the digital version of the collection

Album was taken apart because it had deteriorated; the original order was retained.

Restrictions on Use: Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Acquisition Info: Donor: William Stanley, 1986

11aCreek near the Cascade railroad tunnel in the snow1925

General Notes: Written on photo: "Old creek bed opposite STA 58+00 - 72+00"

11bBuilding on a hill in the snow, possibly a snow shed over the railway tracks1925 11cSnowy valley in the Cascade Mountains1925 12aBucyrus steam shovel digging a trench for the Cascade Railway tunnel1925 12bSnowy valley and buildings in the Cascade Mountains1925 12cSnowy valley in the Cascade Mountains1925 12dPeople working near large trench with steam shovel in background1925 13dHorses pulling lumber in the snow1925 14aSteam shovels and crew along the edge of a ditch1925

General Notes: Written on photo: Star 19, Cyclone

14bThe BNSF railway line in the Cascade Mountains1925 14cSteam shovels digging ditch for Cascade Railway tunnel1925 14dConstruction camp along railway lineFebruary 20, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: Camp 2, Feb. 20

15aTrain crossing the Mill Creek bridge at Mill Creek valley1925 15bRailway bridge on the BNSF railway line in the Cascade Mountains1925 15cBNSF railway line in the Cascade Mountains with houses in the distance1925 16aMan with wheelbarrow working among uprooted treesJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: 967-982, June 1925

16bPeople aboard a grounded Drummond Lighterage Company barge carrying railway ties 1925 16cMill Creek at a channel change1925 16dSteam shovels digging ditch along the BNSF railway line in the Cascade Mountains192517aConstruction along ditch in the BNSF railway line in the Cascade Mountains1925 17b Drummond Lighterage Company Seattle barge loaded with railway ties1925 17c Railway bridge on the BNSF railway line in the Cascade Mountains1925 17d Active steam shovel and construction crew in a ditch1925 18a People with wheelbarrows clearing the terrain of tree stumpsJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: STA 967 - 982, June 6, 1925

18b Bucyrus steam shovel excavating ditch for the Cascade Railway tunnel1925 18c People with wheelbarrows clearing terrain of tree stumpsJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: STA 977, June 6, 1925

19a Well drills in operation above train on tracks belowJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: Well drills at work, Camp 2 cut

19b People clearing terrain of tree stumpsJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: 967 - 982, June 6, 1925

 19c People clearing terrain of tree stumpsJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: 967 - 982, June 6, 1925

19dConstruction camp along the railway lineJune 6, 1925

General Notes: Written on photo: Camp 2

110a Rocky terrain along a creek in the Cascade Mountains1925 110bSteam shovel digging ditch for the Cascade railroad tunnel1925 110cDirt path leading to creek in the Cascade Mountains1925 110dSteam shovel digging with creek in the background1925 111aSteam shovel digging trench for the Cascade Railway tunnel1925 111bMuddy terrain with creek in the background1925 111cMarion steam shovel in the Cascade Mountains1925 111dSmall dam with creek in the background in the Cascade Mountains1925

General Notes: Written on verso: Through cut. Gap and small dam STA 275+00. Water is going around through cut and through gap.

112aMarion steam shovel on bank of canal in the Cascade Mountains1925

General Notes: Written on verso: Closing old canal and cutting water into through cut.

112bMarion steam shovel up close1925 112cSteam shovel digging in the Cascade Mountains1925 112dMarion steam shovel digging in the Cascade Mountains1925

General Notes: Written on verso: Heaviest part of through cut - wasting on upper side

113aClear cut terrain1925 113bMan with survey instrument on barren terrain in the Cascade Mountains1925 113cTree stumps across clear cut terrain in the Cascade Mountains1925 114aPeople at railroad tunnel portal in the Cascade Mountains1925

General Notes: Written on verso: Portal of audit #2, Jim Lawler facing the camera. Vulcan used exclusively here in the hardest rock of the whole tunnel line

114bSwinging steam shovel digging railway construction1925 114cHorses clearing area for railway construction1925 114dDitch along hillside with Cascade Mountains in the distance1925 Accession No. PH2025-003: Great Northern Railroad Cascade Tunnel Construction photographs, approximately 19271 folder (30 photographic prints)

Scope and Content: Photographs taken by worker John Henry Duggan of the construction of the Cascade Tunnel portion of the Great Northern Railroad near Mill Creek.

Biographical/Historical Note: John Henry Duggan worked for the Great Northern Railroad in the 1920s through the 1930s.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Info: Purchased from Fairlook Antiques, October 2024