Page 4ONW FinaleStory and Photos by Rich Frey |
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Arriving at Seneca, the crew ran around their train and wyed #4 at the site of the former Seneca shops of the railroad, then shoved up the spur leading to the lumber mill. After another interval of switching the crew took lunch, and so did I. The return trip southbound was marked by increasing overcast, although the sun did pop out a few times.  Having wyed #4, the crew shoves the train up the spur to the Seneca Mill  The loaded train on the mill spur ready to return to Hines  In the Silvies River Canyon  Crossing the Silvies River  Entering the Silvies Valley |
 Climbing towards Summit   Headed for Hines I broke off the chase where the railroad separated from the road at Summit, and headed back to town for gas and grub. The train arrived back at Hines near dark. There were no other fans out that day, and I felt privileged to have captured the event on film. EpilogueThe empties that #4 hauled that day were loaded by March 5, and on March 6, 1984, a caboose hop with engine #1 went to Seneca to gather up the loads and all remaining rail equipment there. This was ONW's final run. Two days later on March 8, the UP local departed Hines eastbound for the final time. Hines Lumber closed the mill at Seneca and it was later moved to John Day, Oregon. UP sold the Oregon Eastern Branch to shortline group Wyoming & Colorado, who, with a generous infusion of public funds, restored service to Hines and Burns in 1990. Unfortunately it was too late for an ONW revival, as the mill at Seneca was already history and ONW's track was pulled up. The WYCO service only lasted until 1992 as the carloadings from Hines were only 100 to 200 per year which were insufficient to meet costs and far short of projections. The silver lining of this brief restoration was it allowed all four of ONW's Baldwins to move by rail onto the national rail network for preservation. |
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