Welcome To
The Rainier Great Western
The Rainier Great Western (RGW) is a freelanced HO scale model railroad based on the trackage previously owned by the Milwaukee Railroad and the Columbia & Puget Sound Railway. It runs between Renton and Franklin, Washington with a connection to the BNSF mainline in Palmer. Industries served to include the Boeing 737 plant in Renton and the coal fields of Black Diamond and Franklin. The layout includes 1800 lin ft of mainline and an additional 1400 lin ft of sidings, spurs, and yard tracks.
Our "History"
The Rainier Great Western (RGW) was established in June of 1980, specifically to take advantage of available trackage that was put up for sale by the trustees in the ill-fated Milwaukee Road bankruptcy. As a result of its successful bid for trackage rights, the RGW gained operational control of 24.5 miles of track starting at Burlington Northern Santa Fe (formerly BN, now BNSF) owned tracks at Black River Junction, 1.5 miles West of Renton, Washington. The track heads east from Renton, functionally paralleling the Cedar River to Maple Valley, where it splits from the now abandoned Milwaukee line that headed east to Ellensburg and proceeds south to Black Diamond and culminating in Franklin, Washington.
After turning a modest profit in its first few years, the RGW began negotiating with BNSF for trackage rights on its Woodinville Sub. These negotiations culminated in 1987, when the BN was forced by a ruling of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to provide access to shortline railroads across the country, or risk stiff operating restrictions by the STB. As such, the RGW gained access to several major customers and its Maltby Turn is now one of its most respected and profitable runs.
BNSF and Union Pacific (UP)
On its own trackage, the RGW was able to successfully negotiate profitable trackage rights agreements with BNSF and Union Pacific (UP) to provide interchange for inbound and outbound traffic. In turn, BNSF and UP are provided trackage rights on the RGW which gives them access to their respective customer bases in the region and provides a faster traverse of the Cascade Mountains for journeys Eastward. While BNSF assigns a variety of motive power to the region, UP has seen fit to spot several of its Chicago & Northwestern (CNW) fleet in the area. These units were acquired when UP completed its purchase of the CNW in 1995.
BNSF and Union Pacific (UP)
On its own trackage, the RGW was able to successfully negotiate profitable trackage rights agreements with BNSF and Union Pacific (UP) to provide interchange for inbound and outbound traffic. In turn, BNSF and UP are provided trackage rights on the RGW which gives them access to their respective customer bases in the region and provides a faster traverse of the Cascade Mountains for journeys Eastward. While BNSF assigns a variety of motive power to the region, UP has seen fit to spot several of its Chicago & Northwestern (CNW) fleet in the area. These units were acquired when UP completed its purchase of the CNW in 1995.
The RGW has only a few units in its fleet. The first unit ever acquired was ex-Milwaukee #988, a very unusual, but reliable ALCO RSC-2. It was acquired shortly after the demise of the Milwaukee. RGW has renumbered the ALCO #44. It can be seen here shoving a cut of coal hoppers up the grade over the High Bridge. The hoppers are headed to Old Mine # 11 in Black Diamond. Other units owned by the RGW include ex-Milwaukee #605, an EMD SW1200, renumbered RGW #4 acquired in 1981 and SD40-2, now RGW #421, ex-BN 7151. It was purchased in 1999. It is currently assigned to Progress Rail Services, a Caterpillar Company. The RGW contracts with Progress Rail to perform equipment upgrades, painting and repowering. The major source of revenue for the RGW is the aforementioned Old Mine #11; owned by Pacific Coast Coal Company. The other major coal line is in Franklin; owned by Rainier Anthracite Corporation. Additional sources of revenue include the Edwards & Bradford lumber mill in Palmer, the grain elevators in Maple Valley and the Rabanco Transfer Station just east of Black River Junction.
The RGW has only a few units in its fleet. The first unit ever acquired was ex-Milwaukee #988, a very unusual, but reliable ALCO RSC-2. It was acquired shortly after the demise of the Milwaukee. RGW has renumbered the ALCO #44. It can be seen here shoving a cut of coal hoppers up the grade over the High Bridge. The hoppers are headed to Old Mine # 11 in Black Diamond. Other units owned by the RGW include ex-Milwaukee #605, an EMD SW1200, renumbered RGW #4 acquired in 1981 and SD40-2, now RGW #421, ex-BN 7151. It was purchased in 1999. It is currently assigned to Progress Rail Services, a Caterpillar Company. The RGW contracts with Progress Rail to perform equipment upgrades, painting and repowering. The major source of revenue for the RGW is the aforementioned Old Mine #11; owned by Pacific Coast Coal Company. The other major coal line is in Franklin; owned by Rainier Anthracite Corporation. Additional sources of revenue include the Edwards & Bradford lumber mill in Palmer, the grain elevators in Maple Valley and the Rabanco Transfer Station just east of Black River Junction.
Video Tour of the Rainier Great Western Railroad
Management Perspective
We hope that you enjoy your stay on the Rainier Great Western. This is an ongoing process and we encourage any and all to contact the Management should any suggestions for improvement be noted. We hope that your ride along our tracks is smooth, enjoyable and enlightening. Thank you for your consideration.
Management Perspective
We hope that you enjoy your stay on the Rainier Great Western. This is an ongoing process and we encourage any and all to contact the Management should any suggestions for improvement be noted. We hope that your ride along our tracks is smooth, enjoyable and enlightening. Thank you for your consideration.
Management Perspective
We hope that you enjoy your stay on the Rainier Great Western. This is an ongoing process and we encourage any and all to contact the Management should any suggestions for improvement be noted. We hope that your ride along our tracks is smooth, enjoyable and enlightening. Thank you for your consideration.