Uploaded December 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This two part video was shot during an excursion to commemorate the return of Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway's steam locomotive number 700 to its home rails in April, 2001. The trip was four days in length between Vancouver, WA, and Spokane, WA, with an overnight stay in Pasco, WA, in both directions.
The first day of the trip was fine but as we headed upgrade out of Pasco on the second day, the steam locomotive began to labor, losing power due to a failed piston ring. We sat for a couple of hours on a siding and eventually had a BNSF diesel coupled to the front of the locomotive that helped get us to Spokane.
On the return trip, BNSF provided a GE Dash 9-44CW helper that coupled behind number 700 and allowed the steamer to lead the way back to Vancouver. We reached Pasco without any trouble where we spent the night before the last day of the trip. As we waited at the Pasco Amtrak station for the train to back through the rail yard to pick us up, the tool car right behind the tender split a switch derailing itself and the power car. As a result the rail portion of the trip was terminated and we returned to Vancouver on charter buses.
This two part video was shot during an excursion to commemorate the return of Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway's steam locomotive number 700 to its home rails in April, 2001. The trip was four days in length between Vancouver, WA, and Spokane, WA, with an overnight stay in Pasco, WA, in both directions.
The first day of the trip was fine but as we headed upgrade out of Pasco on the second day, the steam locomotive began to labor, losing power due to a failed piston ring. We sat for a couple of hours on a siding and eventually had a BNSF diesel coupled to the front of the locomotive that helped get us to Spokane.
On the return trip, BNSF provided a GE Dash 9-44CW helper that coupled behind number 700 and allowed the steamer to lead the way back to Vancouver. We reached Pasco without any trouble where we spent the night before the last day of the trip. As we waited at the Pasco Amtrak station for the train to back through the rail yard to pick us up, the tool car right behind the tender split a switch derailing itself and the power car. As a result the rail portion of the trip was terminated and we returned to Vancouver on charter buses.
