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Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2026 10:10 pm
by webenda
1960's Railroad Train Photo YVT Co. Yakima Valley Transportation P00858
Image
Photographer unknown.
Purchased from SlidetownUSA on eBay.

Reference on YVT; => https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakima_Va ... on_Company

Copilot AI says,

It’s a fascinating image — there’s a lot of history packed into that little scene. Since you’ve already provided a description, I can talk about it freely.

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a railway maintenance or utility vehicle, likely from the mid‑20th century. A few details stand out:

Key features of the vehicle

Overhead line maintenance gear: The pulleys, elevated platform, and framework strongly suggest it was used for working on catenary wires or other electrical infrastructure.

Short track segment: It’s positioned on a stub of track, which is typical for equipment stored or serviced in a yard.

Industrial surroundings: The stacked poles, utility lines, and workshop‑style buildings reinforce the idea of a railway or electrical utility depot.

What the setting suggests
This is almost certainly a maintenance-of-way (MOW) facility — the behind‑the‑scenes part of railroading where track, power lines, and equipment are repaired. The presence of overhead wires and poles hints at an electrified railway system, which narrows down the possibilities depending on the region.

The handwritten “EN 3”
That little marking could be:

A cataloging or archival reference

A photographer’s notation

A designation for a specific equipment class or yard area
Without more context, it’s hard to pin down, but it’s definitely part of how the photo was organized or stored.

Re: Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2026 7:41 am
by Rufus T. Firefly
That's Line Car A of the Yakima Valley - photos and drawing are in Apple Country Interurban by Ken Johnsen.

Be a fun build if I could get another drawing or 2, and then an under the floor drive with a correct wheelbase.

Re: Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2026 9:42 am
by webenda
You probably already know this, Rufus, but for those who are interested, there is more about the YVT on American Rails.
There is a better picture of Line Car A here: https://www.american-rails.com/images/5 ... 32sd34.jpg
And a discussion of the YVT here: https://www.american-rails.com/yvt.html

Re: Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 10:44 am
by Nortonville Phil
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UA9AWYuYZJ4&pp=0gcJCcUKAYcqIYzv

This is a video that Maroon took of some of the DFW O club members cars running on the club layout at the O scale National in Denver a few years ago. One of the models Is Yakima Valley towercar A. Club member Andy purchased this nice model off EBay. I believe the car has a Wagner drive

Re: Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 12:25 pm
by Rufus T. Firefly
Thanks for posting up the link to that video! Lots of nice equipment running under the wire.

Re: Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:25 pm
by Nortonville Phil
I realized just now that I shared a different video than I meant too . Here is the video from The Denver O scale national show. But the Yakima Valley line car isn’t in this video. Lol o boy. Any way there is a different line car in this video. Many of the cars are the same as in the first video. Take a look. :? :oops: :)

https://youtu.be/O7iWKQg-5Ik?si=dTfPrh5bY2LzLMyO

Re: Yakima Valley Transportation

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:25 am
by Rufus T. Firefly
Nortonville Phil wrote:......... there is a different line car in this video.


Nice - not sure that I've ever built a line car that featured a spool of wire, etc. Overhead work platform cars, I have though. Issue becomes at the end having a good under the floor drive, but this car could have one that pops up into the body. Have to capture a few screen shots....and ponder.