Yakima Central Railroad

[Westcoast_Trains]

I've been doing some research in hopes of finding a good shortline in the pacific northwest ish, to model as a point to point style shelf layout. I say pacific northwest, because ideally I don't want to have to fly to railfan it, if it still exists, or walk the ROW if it doesn't. I have been a fan of the Columbia Basin for a number of years but was never aware of all the short lines in the area around Kennewick and Pasco. The Yakima Central, formerly the Toppenish, Simcoe & Western Railroad, the Washington Central, and BN/NP before that, is 22 miles long approximately, with industries in multiple places along the line and seems like an ideal subject for further study. I have been able to find some nice history on the line, but there is not much information about schedule or even photos and videos of it. I've seen the ex us military loco the TSWR used, which looked Australian. But there is not much media of it since the Yakima Central took over in late 2005.  If anyone happens to have any photos or videos, or general information they want to share that would be great.
Thanks in advance.

[signalmaintainer]

It's the old White Swan Branch, as it was still known when I worked for Washington Central in 1990.

Here's a link listing current/former customers: https://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/Yakima_Central_Railway

[Westcoast_Trains]

It's the old White Swan Branch, as it was still known when I worked for Washington Central in 1990.

Here's a link listing current/former customers: https://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/Yakima_Central_Railway

That is awesome, thanks for the information!
You say you worked for the company in 1990, did you ever work the White Swan Branch? Curious to know as much as I can. I model 1997 so any insight you might have is very appreciated.

[davefoxx]

Short lines rock.  I’ve said before that if and when I build another layout, it’d be a short line.  I also know little about the Pacific Northwest, so I’ll be following with interest.

DFF

[signalmaintainer]

That is awesome, thanks for the information!
You say you worked for the company in 1990, did you ever work the White Swan Branch? Curious to know as much as I can. I model 1997 so any insight you might have is very appreciated.

I was nominally the sales manager for the dinner train, but 60 percent of my usual 60-hour workweek was spent either on the train itself as the host or in the cab of one of the two CF7s, which were the assigned power at the time.