Engine No. 700 May Visit Spokane

In her day, Engine No. 700 could fly down the tracks at 100 mph. Her scheduled speed, including station stops, was 50 mph.

Today, the Lady is said to be one of the five largest steam locomotives still operating in the United States and Canada.

Since her rebirth in 1990, she has been to Longview, Wishram and Yakima on “return to steam” excursions but never as far as Spokane.

Don Wheeler, president of the Pacific Railroad Preservation Association, said his group has asked permission to run the 700 to Spokane.

The Burlington Northern and Sante Fe Railway would have to clear its tracks of revenue-producing freights so the 700 could make the journey. Fire departments in towns along the way would supply water for her tender. And the public would crowd along rail facilities that can only be described as hazardous.

Wheeler said the public relations value is worth the trouble, and the PRPA would use the opportunity to pass along its message of public safety around trains and rail crossings.

In her day, the 700 was a favorite of railroaders. She weighed nearly a half million pounds empty. End to end, she occupied nearly 111 feet of track.

For every mile, she burned about 15 gallons of thick fuel oil and consumed 10 times as much water. Her output was 5,000 horsepower.

Crews on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway were so proud of the Lady they would wash her with kerosene after every passenger trip.

The SP&S line opened in 1908 as a rail link along the north side of the Columbia River from Spokane to Portland. Its owner was James J. Hill, after whom Hillyard is named. He used the SP&S to tie Portland into his Great Northern and Northern Pacific transcontinental lines, which passed through Spokane.

Despite its name, the SP&S never ran to Seattle.