Margin Notes: Gravestone, Wildlife, Radio

The grave of Charles and Florence Harper was observed at Mountain View Cemetery in Connell, Washington on 15-June-2010

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON - After attending the reunion of the descendants of Charles and Florence Harper last weekend, it seemed only appropriate that I would also visit their grave site, located at Mountain View Cemetery above Connell, Washington. Their gravestone sits prominently above town, along with that of many of other family members including my grandfather.

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Eastern Washington state, besides being the home of many of my relatives, is the realm of rural radio. Paul Harvey once reigned supreme across the AM dial at noon, but with his passing, ABC is now distributing Mike Huckabee. This trip was my first chance to check out the short-form news and commentary broadcast, airing in Harvey's old time slot on KONA-AM in the Tri-Cities, and I have to say I just didn't find it interesting. Where Harvey kept me tuned in for the rest of the story or the humorous story on "page five," Huckabee didn't have any hooks that I noticed, and if I want conservative commentary, there are plenty of other sources for that.

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Another radio voice that I heard for the first time this week on his new assignment made a much more positive impression. The five-minute Future Tense from American Public Media is now hosted by John Moe. Moe distinguished himself in a variety of assignments at KUOW in Seattle, most notably the business show "The Works," before moving to St. Paul to join the national network, including a stint as host of "Weekend America." Future Tense has long been a technology show hosted by Jon Gordon, and Gordon finally got a promotion, leaving the slot open for Moe, who brings a Generation X sensibility to the show--exactly the kind of technology show for which I had been searching! (Goodbye, Natali Del Conte--I'm sure you'll keep getting Loaded.)

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A ground hog watched me carefully from his secure position in Schlagel Park in Pasco, Washington on 17-June-2010

I didn't have to search to find wildlife in Pasco, Washington's Schlagel Park last week. In addition to quite a variety of water fowl, I encountered a large Garter Snake and the ground hog shown above kept a close watch on my activities near the shore of the Columbia River.

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Former Amtrak SDP40F #644 showed off its restored Amtrak light package in Portland, Oregon on 20-June-2010

My return trip to western Washington was routed through Portland, Oregon so I could check in on progress at the Brooklyn Roundhouse as the various groups that make up the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation prepare to move to a new home. In addition to seeing plans for the new facility, there was quite a bit of progress to see on the Alco PA and, dearest to me, the restored Amtrak lighting package on SDP40F diesel locomotive #644 seen above.

Photos: Holiday Express 2009

The "Holiday Express" rounded a curve beneath construction cranes also decorated for the holidays in Portland, Oregon on 13-December-2009

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON - This week's update to my photo site features the Holiday Expresss. A visit to Portland, Oregon allowed the opportunity to observe and ride the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation's "Holiday Express" in its final two days of operations on 12-December and 13-December-2009 along the Willamette River. Also included are other holidays scenes from Sacramento, California and Eugene, Oregon.

Margin Notes: Holiday Oddities

A "Peace on Earth" sign greeted Amtrak passengers in Eugene, Oregon on 12-December-2009

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON - I guess my sense of humor is fundamentally suspect. When passing through Eugene, Oregon on the train last week--a town considered the runner-up for hippie capitol of world--I was terribly amused to find a prominent building with "Peace on Earth" as its holiday decoration. Peace out, dudes.

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Similarly, the baggage car used on the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation's Holiday Express is named after philanthropist Gordon Zimmerman, but is sometimes referred to in shorthand as "the Gordo." When I heard, "I think Santa Claus is in the Gordo right now," I about died laughing--was Santa in the Gordo, or was he just gordo (Spanish for, er, rotund)?

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The Holiday Express is featured as the December picture in my 2010 Railroad Calendar, available from Shutterfly as a last-minute gift. The calendar features pictures from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ontario, Oregon, and Washington and scenes with the BNSF, Canadian Pacific, CSX, GO Transit, Nickel Plate, Ontario Northland, Ontario Southland, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and VIA Rail Canada.

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We've heard (see yesterday's radio pick) that Thomas the Tank engine is a suspect gift because it teaches sexism and classism. I found what I consider much more disturbing gift at a REI store in Issaquah, Washington--National Parks Monopoly. If there ever were something that should be free of private ownership and capitalists, it is the national parks, which should be public property and available to all. I find National Parks Monopoly to be a sacrilege.

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Probably the greatest sacrilege of this holiday season, though, is the "Christmas #1" song in Great Britain. A campaign to end the string of Simon Cowell's "X-Factor" winners as the Christmas #1 at four years has succeeded, as "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine is #1 after a surprising number of downloads. A 17-year old song laced with an obscenity making it to #1? If this is what passes for a "Christmas miracle" this year, we really have poor judgment when we wish upon a star in this world.

Holiday: Holiday Express 2009

Former Southern Pacific #4449 led the final run of the 2009 Holiday Express along the Oregon Pacific Railroad in Portland, Oregon on 13-December-2009

PORTLAND, OREGON - Despite my loose affiliation with its preservation efforts, I had not managed to ever ride the annual fundraiser for the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF), the Holiday Express. This year, as the ORHF moves forward building a permanent home for the three steam locomotives owned by the city of Portland, Oregon, I decided it was time to climb aboard.


Temperatures barely above freezing led to a great display of steam from the Holiday Express during a morning run at the Ross Island Bridge in Portland, Oregon on 13-December-2009

The weather forecast looked a bit scary for the final of six days of runs today, but freezing rain and snow did not materialize, and the near-freezing temperatures just made the steam locomotive look all the more impressive as it handled the train single-handedly. The sun even came out during a morning run, highlighting the bright paint scheme of former Southern Pacific "Daylight" #4449 which handled this weekend's trains. Last weekend's trains were handled by former Spokane, Portland and Seattle #700.


On board a mid-afternoon run of the Holiday Express, children and their parents enjoyed the scenic views as they awaited a visit from Santa Claus on 13-December-2009

Both inside and outside, the train was decorated for the holidays with strings of multi-colored LED's. On board, though, there was little need to be encouraged to be in a seasonal mood. Everyone knew that Santa would be coming around, giving out candy canes and posing for pictures with children of all ages. While waiting, there was plenty to see out the windows of the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and the Willamette River, and a deer--not quite a reindeer but as close as one will get in Oregon--even made an appearance as the train approached.


Not quite a reindeer, but a deer did stand on the tracks as the Holiday Express approached on the Oregon Pacific tracks near Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon on 13-December-2009

While the views were pretty during the day, what really sets this train apart is the experience at night, with the lights lining the train as it plied the Oregon Pacific Railroad tracks in the Springwater Corridor. There's something special about hearing a steam whistle at night, and watching multi-colored lights illuminate steam from the locomotive and escaping from the train's steam heating system.


The six cars of the Holiday Express disappeared into the distance on its final run for the year on 13-December-2009

While the last Holiday Express may have run in 2009, the ORHF is always actively seeking support for its efforts, and we can rest assured that the Holiday Express will be back in December 2010.