Idaho and Washington Northern Railroad

The Idaho & Washington Northern Railroad was a shortline railroad that operated between McGuire's Idaho and Metaline Falls, WA. It was later purchased by the Milwaukee Road

Idaho & Washington Northern Railroad

Overview
Headquarters	Spirit Lake’ ID
Reporting mark	I&WN
Locale	Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
Dates of operation	1907–1916
Successor	Milwaukee Road
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Length	104 miles

History

The I&WN was created in 1907 by Frederick Blackwell, to reach timberland.^[1]

Construction started in early 1907 and the line from McGuire's to Newport was completed in late 1907. The line from Newport to Metaline Falls was completed in 1911.

The railroad was short lived as it quickly began losing money due to the recession. In 1914 Blackwell relinquished control of the railroad to the Milwaukee Road as they agreed to take all debts owed by the I&WN.^[2][3][4]

The line became the MILWs Metaline Falls Branch after it was acquired.^[5][6][7][8]

Route

The Idaho and Washington Northern Railroads southern end was in McGuire's, ID where it connected to other railroads. At the Jct it ran northward through the communities of Rathdrum, Spirit Lake,^[9] Coleman, Blanchard, Newport , Dalkenna, Usk, Ione and Metaline Falls.^[10]

Most of the I&WN line is still visible or in use.

The McGuire-Newport segment was abandoned In the late 1970s and is privately owned by various people.

The Newport to Usk segment is currently owned and used by POVA.

The Usk-Metaline Falls segment was abandoned by POVA in 2016 due to no customers.^[11]

Roster

The Idaho and Washington Northern Railroad had several steam locomotives.

I&WN 5: Lima 3 truck Shay, Class C (later MILW 26) ^[12]

I&WN 6: Lima 3 truck Shay, class C (sold to MILW but never rostered or used) ^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

I&WN 11: Baldwin 4-6-0 (later MILW 2713)

I&WN 12: Baldwin 4-6-0 (later MILW 2714)

I&WN 15: Baldwin 4-6-0 (later MILW 2715)^[17][18]

I&WN 16: Baldwin 4-6-0 (later MILW 2716)

I&WN 17: Baldwin 4-6-0 (later MILW 2717) ^[19]

I&WN 21: BLW 2-8-0 (later MILW 7555) ^[20]

I&WN 22: BLW 2-8-0 (later MILW 7556)

I&WN 23: BLW 2-8-0 (later MILW 7557)

I&WN 24: BLW 2-8-0 (later MILW 7558)

I&WN 25: BLW 2-8-0 (later MILW 7559)

I&WN 26: BLW 2-8-0 (later MILW 1347) ^[21][22]

I&WN 31: 4-4-2 ^[23][24]

References

1. "60th Congress session, Chapter 23" (PDF). Library of Congress.
2. "Frederick Blackwell's I&WN a unique railroad". Spokesman Review. 2008-03-13.
3. "Port of Pend Oreille buys a railroad on September 19, 1979". History Link. 2011-01-26.
4. "Legend and History of Spirit Lake, Idaho". Spirit Lake.gov.
5. "Idaho and Washington Northern Railroad Bridge". Next Exit History.
6. "The Railroad Collection". Bonner County Historical Society and Museum.
7. "POVA: About". Pend Orielle Valley Railroad.
8. Finney, John (1988). The Milwaukee Railroader, the Idaho & Washington Northern Railroad. MRHA. pp. All.
9. "Spirit Lake I&WN yards". Wisconsin Historical Society. December 2003.
10. "RoW maps". Cascade Rail Foundation.
11. "The end of the scenic Ione-to-Metaline Falls train ride will impact the whole North Pend Oreille Valley". The Spokesman Review. October 4, 2016.
12. "Data Sheets". Shay Locomotives.com.
13. "Data Sheets". Shay Locomotives.com.
14. "Surviving Steam Locomotives in British Columbia". Steam Locomotive.com.
15. "Canadian Forest Products, Ltd. No. 6". WWW.SteamLocomotive.info. June 10, 2017.
16. "Surviving Shays". Shay Locomotive.com.
17. "Jim Fredrickson's Photo Collection - JMF11-09989.0". www.nprha.org. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
18. "Jim Fredrickson's Photo Collection - JMF11-09987.0". www.nprha.org. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
19. "CMSTPP: Bellingham Bay & British Columbia / Idaho & Washington Northern / Milwaukee Road / Southern Indiana / Tacoma Eastern 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives in the USA". Steam Locomotive.com.
20. "Idaho & Washington Northern Railway locomotive No. 21 hauling load of logs". Washington State Historical Society.
21. "CMSTPP: Chicago Southern / Chicago, Milwaukee & Gary / Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern / Idaho & Washington Northern / Illinois, Iowa & Minnesota / Milwaukee Road / Montana RR / Tacoma Eastern 2-8-0 "Consolidation" Locomotives in the USA". Steam Locomotive.com.
22. "Jim Fredrickson's Photo Collection - JMF11-09988.0". www.nprha.org. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
23. "Idaho & Washington Northern / Milwaukee Road 4-4-2 "Atlantic" Locomotives in the USA". Steam Locomotive.com.
24. Inland Empire Railway Review. Vol. Issue 1. Inland Northwest Rail Museum: Inland Empire Railway Historical Society. January 1981. pp. All.

Sources