- Art Gibson photographed Alaska Railroad Consolidation #401 from the vestibule
of a passenger train arriving in Whittier on March 17, 1957. Typical Whittier
weather, sleet and snow was showering the string of 14 steam engines stored
at the West end of the yard. The slash burner in the background sat on the tide
flats and served the large Colombia Lumber steam operated saw mill. Part of
the planning shed and the load out deck can be seen just across the road to
Westcamp and the tank farm. This entire area was damaged in the 1964 earthquake
and tsunami and today is part of the small boat harbor complex.
Photo courtesy of W. A. Gibson Jr.
Commentary by Pat Durand
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