At our May 3rd meeting, we covered three areas. Firstly Bill took us to the former Kettle Valley Railway in south west Canada. One of the reasons for building was to try to keep James J Hill’s Great Norther Railway out of Canada. Then he moved to the USA State of Oregon - Bill’s favourite State! The town of La Grande was covered. Le Grande (Population 9,000) is in the Blue Mountains, which cause the Union Pacific Railway severe operational problems each winter!
The third area covered was the Mt St Helens Volcano, just over the border in Washington State. Bill followed the build up and eruption on May 18th 1980. His last day in USA 1999 was spent on a day tour to Johnston Ridge Observatory, 5 miles from the caldera. The observatory commemorates David Johnston who was blown up in the eruption. This observatory is buried under snow for months each year! The DVD shown was Winter Blues on how the UP Railway copes with all the snow of winter!
Next meeting is on Tuesday 7th June at 0930.
We start our trip through the Canadian Rockies, going from east to west, over 4 sessions. The first segment is from Calgary to Field. Bill does not have a DVD of the area but will show a terrific DVD on the famous Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Colorado and New Mexico.
The third area covered was the Mt St Helens Volcano, just over the border in Washington State. Bill followed the build up and eruption on May 18th 1980. His last day in USA 1999 was spent on a day tour to Johnston Ridge Observatory, 5 miles from the caldera. The observatory commemorates David Johnston who was blown up in the eruption. This observatory is buried under snow for months each year! The DVD shown was Winter Blues on how the UP Railway copes with all the snow of winter!
Next meeting is on Tuesday 7th June at 0930.
We start our trip through the Canadian Rockies, going from east to west, over 4 sessions. The first segment is from Calgary to Field. Bill does not have a DVD of the area but will show a terrific DVD on the famous Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Colorado and New Mexico.
