The Western Star

The Western Star departed Union Station in Portland at 9:30am on July 6, 2005. The excursion took passengers through the Columbia River Gorge to Wishram, Wash. The Columbia River Gorge was created millions of years ago by the many volcanoes of the Cascade Mountain Range. These volcanoes left lava and mudflows nearly two miles thick. The Columbia River then cut deep canyons through the lava, mud and ash. Over the years additional mud slides have changed the face of of gorge, some as recently as 1996. The Columbia River Gorge also has the distinction of being the only sea level passage through the Cascade Mountain Range.

The Western Star featured SP&S No. 700 and SP No. 4449 (Daylight) as power. Eastbound, No. 700 was on the point and on the Westbound leg, No. 4449 was on the point. The trip departed Union Station in Portland and ran to Wishram via the BNSF right-of-way which follows the Columbia River Gorge. The train arrive back at Portland Union Station around 6pm. Riders were transported in a variety of cars including passenger coaches, parlor and luxury cars. Since the special operated as an Amtrak special, an Amtrak P42 was in the consist as well.

The Western Star is backing its train out of Wishram onto a bridge over the Columbia River to wye the train. Here the SP&S NO. 700 is on the point. After the train was wyed the locomotives were swapped so that the Daylight was on the point for the return trip to Portland.