The Northern Pacific Depot in Wallace, Idaho was constructed in 1901 with unique bricks from the Olympian Hotel, the original terminus of the transcontinental Northern Pacific Railroad in Tacoma, Washington. With the construction of an interstate highway in 1986, the building was moved approximately 200 feet across the Coeur d’Alene River to its current location. Today the chateau style depot building serves as a museum telling the story of the area’s rich railroading history.
Shown above is a railroad switch which is used to change the alignment of the track.
Shown above is a galvanized steel barrel used to hold diesel fuel for the Northern Pacific Railway Company.
Shown above is some railroad dinnerware.
Shown above is the Depot’s bathroom.
Shown above is a charcoal burner from the Milwaukee Road. This was used to melt ice on the tracks in the tunnels during the winter months. Similar units were used to warm the fruit in rail cars during transit from Washington to the east in the winter months.
Shown above some Northern Pacific Railroad date nails.
According to the display:
“Date nails were used as a record keeping tool as to when the ties or timbers were treated with preservatives. The date nails were put into place by hand in a specific location on a tie or timber at the factory. Typical places for date nails to appear are at cross ties, switch ties, bridge and trestle timbers.”
Shown above is a semaphore signal arm.
According to the display:
“At the turn of the century semaphores were nearly universally used for train order signals. Semaphores utilized signal arms are very tall posts to give orders to train crews. The position of the arms indicated signals such as to order the train to stop or proceed.”
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