By Laura Lorenz
Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, May 23, 1973
Busy in the valley’s mining past, the old railroad trestle paralleling Highway 169 will be demolished in the near future. It’s been declared a fire hazard. (Photo by Lowell Lorenz)
A historical link to the Cedar Valley’s mining past will be torn down in the near future. The old railroad trestle paralleling State Highway 169 that crosses the Cedar River in central Maple Valley has been declared a fire hazard according to Valley Depot Dispatcher Ralph Ozura.
In the late 1880s it was first known as the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad. It was sold to the Pacific Coast Company in 1904 and referred to as the Pacific Coast Railroad. Ownership was transferred again in 1951 when it became the property of Great Northern and upon the railroad merger in 1970 its final name rested as the Burlington Northern.
The line carried mostly coal and a few passengers. It was responsible for developing the towns of Franklin and Black Diamond. As coal needs diminished and highways were developed its last purpose was to furnish coal to the University of Washington. Several years ago the campus heating system was switched to gas and the rail’s use came to a lumbering halt.
The track from the central fire station to Lake Wilderness has been abandoned with the intent of eventually removing it in that area. The upper line from Wilderness to Black Diamond will be retained. In the event it should be activated the upper line could be tied in with the Palmer routing at Henry’s Switch near Gauthier’s mill, according to railroad man Bill Harshfield.
Comment: It does seem strange in the era of mass transit promotion and threatened gas shortage that the railroads are shrinking from the lack of use.
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