Re: Hanford ALCO RS-1s and the "City of Hinkle"

I rode the "City of Hinkle" at the end of Summer break in1969 from Spokane to Hinkle. This was part of a longer around the west train trip. On my trip we had 3 E-units, baggage and coach, and, IIRC, 45 freight cars and caboose out of Spokane and later added 15 freight cars at Walula. I was one of only two passengers in the train that day; the other was a woman who was going from Wentahee, Washington to Oklahoma City, via GN, UP to KC and finishing on ATSF.

I seem to recall a counter-top sign board that used the term "City of Hinkle;".

I cannot remember when or where I heard that the train was operated as a passenger train with a extra pay element for being operated as a mixed train. Passenger trains between Hinkle and Spokane was a single crew. However, freight trains operated with two crews, changing at Ayer. The extra pay element was cheaper than paying two freight crews.

The conductor said that a week earlier they had two coaches on the train because of a Boy Scout, or was it a Cub Scout, group.

Brian Norden