Awful fuckin' town! Even the diner sucks! One thing about Ritzville...too goddamn many cops hang out there. City cops, Adams County Sheriffs, and the state police ALL operate outa that evil city!
__________________
Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
If you are spending pennies a day at TO there is a guy named "Ritzville" that posts every day
with BNSF pictures. The pictures hard to say how good they are and many from the same location
day after day. "Ritzville" is good at reporting the E. WA weather conditions and can tell a busy day
from slow day.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
In the heart (If there's such a place...) of old Ritzville the NP depot houses a museum of sorts... Railroad items, mostly NP, and BN items. Very little since the 2LARRCO marriage however. Quite a few retires contributed personally to the project from the beginning, and many of those characters have passed on as well. The place has limited hours nowadays.
Been there once, or twice when living/working for BN. Way back when...
This sign always reminds me of my visit to their jail in 2005!
Then there's this crap: http://museums.goritzville.com/depot.php
-- Edited by Uke on Saturday 16th of September 2017 01:14:27 PM
__________________
Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
Everybody always says that tSpokane is a complete shithole, but you can live in nice places and work there. Then, they go on shooting rampages in Spokane.
Spokane is an anomaly. Ya never know what might happen from one day to the next. But yers truly made a home of sorts in that city, going as far as buying a house on the western edge of the burbs.
Walking distance from the VA hospital. Nice area. And what Mr. The Krink says id true. IF ya had a RR job, living in or around Spokane could be very, very good. The climate is reasonably four seasons. (It was back then...late '70s, early '80s). Dry, but reasonable rainy springs, occasional hot dry summers, gorgeous falls, and mild/dry winters.
At one time five railroads ran into/through Spokane from the Midwest, Canada, and states next door to Washington. They included NP, GN, Milwaukee, UP, Spokane International (owned jointly back then by CN/CP), and another short line from Idaho, the Camas Prarie.And that outfit probably doesn't exist today. But MRL comes into Spokane via the Sanpoint Junction of the former NP.
Spokane is not so much a 'railroad' town these days however. BNSF, and UP are the only shows there now. And they originate/terminate very few trains in Spokane today. The city happens to lie on 2LARRCO's main line to/from Chicago. And Hauser, east of Spokane is a crew change point/service track for trans-con traffic. Union Pacific continues east from Spokane into Idaho and further east.
The old Parkwater (NP) shops now service mostly local units, and switchers, even though it sits adjacent to the mains, and the old Yardley BN intermodal yard. Now it sees more grainers than anything else.
Railroad jobs in/around Spokane are few and far between. But Spokane remains a very affordable town. Damn near anything you'd want can be had there. From all kinds of housing, to weather, and fishing/hunting, and outdoor activities because of the climate. All the big retailers can be had in Spokane. TV, and internet service are good, and reliable. Cell phone service is good as well. All the bigger carriers are available. Not a shithole any longer, and for what it's worth...Uke's opinion stands!
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 17th of September 2017 09:10:12 AM
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 17th of September 2017 12:03:07 PM
__________________
Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
Nope! But when the Spokane Indians (beisbol) played, yes! Great outdoor venue for games. That hockey team still exists eh? They finagled the city into building a new stadium where they now play, if they still exist that is!
Apparently the Chiefs are still playing ar the old/new arena
http://spokanechiefs.com/
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 17th of September 2017 10:27:13 AM
__________________
Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
I will go with Spokane WA being more of a railroad town than a sports town.
BNSF has a huge employee base in Spokane and UP a large employee base.
Spokane Wa is the "Funnel MP 0 to Sandpoint Idaho". I remember the seniority
rosters on the BN had the oldest heads working out of Spokane. If you could live
in Denver CO you could live in Spokane.
__________________
If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
Odd ain't it... FB is the place to reconnect with former co-workers from BN from 1979. Guys off the Milwaukee, from Deer Lodge, Montana. Guys who served their apprenticeships at GN Hillyard Shops, and a few who served on NP.
After rehiring at Interbay (1992) it was like old home week. After BN downsized/closed Hillyard, the last few grunts moved to Seattle. They dovetailed into the local seniority roster, or in some cases, super protected guys (pre-BN) bumped in, displacing day shifters, and grabbing best jobs right off!
Met guys from Spokane, that would be retired in a few years, opening better positions, and rest days. Then in '96 BN closed Denver, and brought their power (SD-40s) with 'em. Interbay dovetailed more machinists, electricians, and a few pipefitters and a couple laborers.
The Burlington Northern was a pretty good outfit to work for. The biggest change were yet to come in 1996, after the merger with Santa Fe.
__________________
Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
