27.1

Logging — Railroads

Diamond Match — The Lakeshore Limited crossing Kalispell Creek — circa 1929

circa 1929

Image of a train with a man in the front and piles of logs on all of the train cars. The Train is moving along a raised railroad and through the trees. Written on the attached tag for the image is: "Diamond Match Co. Locomotive, Lakeshore Limited"

Note from donor on the back of the image is: "Information given by Jim Norman of Valley, WA, who was Charley Rhy's stepson. The Rhy's lived at the landing site in a small house during the operation. The Diamond Match Co. Log Train (Lakeshore Limited) crossing Kalispell Creek on curved trestle about 3/8 mile from landing at present site of the Priest Lake Marina. 8 cars of double 16' logs load, 2 trains alternated. 2 loads one day, one load the next day, 3 loads a day _____ total of 48 truckloads a day or 24 of today's 32 footers. Approximately 1929. Plymouth gasoline locomotive. Charley Rhy — head engineer at controls, also repaired locomotives during winter. Charley was a "big" man 6'5" about 275 lbs. Wife Gertrude, 2 stepsons Jim and Benny. E. C. Olson was the prime contractor for Diamond Match on the Kalispell basin timber sale, which was probably one of the very last big time railroad logging operations in this area. Symmes—Carlson was the sub—contractor that built the railroads for Olson. They used a little shay steam geared locomotive for construction. The area was logged from the extreme end of the rails toward the lake, which enabled the rails to be lifted and installed up the various spurs, each as Diamond flats etc… This picture was originally taken by a pro photographer from the Priest River Times, copied and recopied many times. Circa 1929. This copy and information from Jim Norman made by Pete VanGelder Kalispell Bay N. 6207 Lincoln / Spokane, WA 99205.

Logging
Logging Railroad
Kalispell Bay
Railroad
Diamond Match
Kalispell Creek

Norman, Jim
Rhy, Charley
Rhy, Gertrude
Olson, E. C.
Van Gelder, Pete