Rayonier: Clallam District
Created 10/8/06
3 truck shay #10 on display at the north end of Forks. (9/23/05)
Here is a more modern propane shack that stands at the area of Sappho Camp that used to be the
donkey doctor, rigging shack, and car and locomotive repair facilities. (7/15/06)
donkey doctor, rigging shack, and car and locomotive repair facilities. (7/15/06)
This older style rail plate was also found at Sappho Camp. (7/15/06)
This rail (upper photo) and tie (lower photo) were found at the junction of RY-6000 RD and RY-9000 RD.
Here, the grade came out of the brush, crossed the 6000 RD, and became the 9000 RD heading
eastbound. It would appear that recent construction on a bypass of the 9000 RD starting at the 6000 RD
uncovered these two objects. (7/14/06)
Here, the grade came out of the brush, crossed the 6000 RD, and became the 9000 RD heading
eastbound. It would appear that recent construction on a bypass of the 9000 RD starting at the 6000 RD
uncovered these two objects. (7/14/06)
The pictures shown below are of the trestle that crossed Ellis Creek. This was one of the Rayonier's mainlines, and the
last one to be used by the company before they pulled out. I must say, as these pictures also show, that this is the
most intact logging railroad trestle I have ever found. Besides the stringers, there are a couple of ties left in place as
well. Also, note the flashing between the piling and piling caps, indicative of later built trestles in the Pacific Northwest.
(7/4/06)
last one to be used by the company before they pulled out. I must say, as these pictures also show, that this is the
most intact logging railroad trestle I have ever found. Besides the stringers, there are a couple of ties left in place as
well. Also, note the flashing between the piling and piling caps, indicative of later built trestles in the Pacific Northwest.
(7/4/06)
The pictures shown below are of the bridge that the RY 6000 road used to cross the Hoko River. Even though this is
not a railroad bridge, this bridge was truly a work of art when it was built, and was built 4 stringers wide to give lowboys
enough room to maneuver on the bridge. Also, note the steps in one of the pictures. These steps were carved on the
west end of the bridge, and allowed for people to walk across at one time, even after the fill approach on the east end
was removed. Unfortunately, one of the stringers has already fallen into the water. (7/4/06)
not a railroad bridge, this bridge was truly a work of art when it was built, and was built 4 stringers wide to give lowboys
enough room to maneuver on the bridge. Also, note the steps in one of the pictures. These steps were carved on the
west end of the bridge, and allowed for people to walk across at one time, even after the fill approach on the east end
was removed. Unfortunately, one of the stringers has already fallen into the water. (7/4/06)
This speeder car body was found alongside the old mainline to Dickey Camp, at the junction of the RY-9000 road and
the RY-9500 road. As you can see, the floor is missing. However, the benches and grab rails on the ends still wait for
someone to use them on another day's journey. Also, note the backpack sprayer can still mounted in place. The line of
moss coming off of it and strung against the roof is actually the hose which is still attached. During the end of
operations it is likely that the body was removed and tossed aside, while the metal underframe was taken out for scrap.
(4/20/07)
the RY-9500 road. As you can see, the floor is missing. However, the benches and grab rails on the ends still wait for
someone to use them on another day's journey. Also, note the backpack sprayer can still mounted in place. The line of
moss coming off of it and strung against the roof is actually the hose which is still attached. During the end of
operations it is likely that the body was removed and tossed aside, while the metal underframe was taken out for scrap.
(4/20/07)
In a point about halfway between Dickey Camp and Old Ozzette Camp, a mainline came off, crossed the South Fork of
the Dickey River, and continued on to the area around Dickey Lake. This remarkable trestle was the crossing of the
South Fork of the Dickey River. Though the waterway has tried its best to knock the trestle down, it still stands, even
with advanced stages of rot. In the main channel itself however, only one piling stands. After crossing the river, the
grade split. A short spur followed the west bank of the river for a little ways, while the mainline joined up and became
the RY-9000 a little ways down. (1/20/07)
the Dickey River, and continued on to the area around Dickey Lake. This remarkable trestle was the crossing of the
South Fork of the Dickey River. Though the waterway has tried its best to knock the trestle down, it still stands, even
with advanced stages of rot. In the main channel itself however, only one piling stands. After crossing the river, the
grade split. A short spur followed the west bank of the river for a little ways, while the mainline joined up and became
the RY-9000 a little ways down. (1/20/07)
This tie still lies where it was cast off of the short spur on the west side of the South Fork of the Dickey
River. Note the seedling Douglas-fir growing up in it. Who says creosote inhibits plant growth. (1/20/07)
River. Note the seedling Douglas-fir growing up in it. Who says creosote inhibits plant growth. (1/20/07)
The trestle spike seen in this photo exists in what remains of a very small creek crossing on the spur on
the west side of the river. Here, 2 logs were placed across the stream and used as stringers, with the ties
laid on top of them. (1/20/07)
the west side of the river. Here, 2 logs were placed across the stream and used as stringers, with the ties
laid on top of them. (1/20/07)
This rail lies alongside the mainline between the trestle crossing of the South Fork of the Dickey river
and the joining with the RY-9000 road. (1/20/07)
and the joining with the RY-9000 road. (1/20/07)
Sappho
On a more recent trip to Sappho Camp, I was able to find artifacts still left over. Rather than take up the space of
identifying each of these objects, I thought it better just to show them in one group. You can see several brake shoes,
a couple of shovel heads, a couple of rail joiners, part of a cross cut saw, an old donkey sled, cable, hoses, building
timbers, and brake linkage. All of these items were found in the working part of the camp/town on the south side of
HWY 101, and the southwest corner of the camp. The living quarters were on the entire northern side of HWY 101, and
on the southeastern side of the camp. (5/18/07)
identifying each of these objects, I thought it better just to show them in one group. You can see several brake shoes,
a couple of shovel heads, a couple of rail joiners, part of a cross cut saw, an old donkey sled, cable, hoses, building
timbers, and brake linkage. All of these items were found in the working part of the camp/town on the south side of
HWY 101, and the southwest corner of the camp. The living quarters were on the entire northern side of HWY 101, and
on the southeastern side of the camp. (5/18/07)
This is the last remaining bunkhouse left at Sappho Camp. It lies right beside HWY 101, on
the south side, slightly east of the maintenance area. Unfortunately, it is not known at this
time if anything will be done to save this structure. All of the rest of the residential area was
torn down and bulldozed. (6/30/07)
the south side, slightly east of the maintenance area. Unfortunately, it is not known at this
time if anything will be done to save this structure. All of the rest of the residential area was
torn down and bulldozed. (6/30/07)
Sappho Camp was originally started by Bloedel Donovan in the late 1920's and served as a hub between their logging
lines south of the Sol Duc River and the Clallam Bay Southern Railroad that led to their log dump on Clallam Bay.
When Rayonier bought out Bloedel Donovan, they took possession of, and maintained Sappho Camp until the end of
Railroad operations. At this point, most of the camp was leveled by bulldozer. Today the area is a bus stop for Clallam
Bay Transit, and doesn't look like anything special, except for the last remaining bunkhouse. However, the
maintenance area was recently logged, and a lot of stuff is visible, until the brush and trees grow back over it.
lines south of the Sol Duc River and the Clallam Bay Southern Railroad that led to their log dump on Clallam Bay.
When Rayonier bought out Bloedel Donovan, they took possession of, and maintained Sappho Camp until the end of
Railroad operations. At this point, most of the camp was leveled by bulldozer. Today the area is a bus stop for Clallam
Bay Transit, and doesn't look like anything special, except for the last remaining bunkhouse. However, the
maintenance area was recently logged, and a lot of stuff is visible, until the brush and trees grow back over it.
Although Goodyear Logging Company was bought out by Bloedel Donovan, which in turn was bought out by Rayonier,
the areas of operations of all three of these were for the most part separate. Therefore, Goodyear's and Bloedel
Donovan's pics and information will appear on different pages.
the areas of operations of all three of these were for the most part separate. Therefore, Goodyear's and Bloedel
Donovan's pics and information will appear on different pages.
RY-6000
The RY-6000 was the main road that paralleled the mainline that ran from the log dump at Seiku, into the woods, and
finally to the Rayonier transfer yard just north of Forks. The railroad ran southeast away from the Hoko River, and
started splitting into different grades itself. For simplicity and understanding, I thought it would be easier to delineate
these grades based on the road names.
finally to the Rayonier transfer yard just north of Forks. The railroad ran southeast away from the Hoko River, and
started splitting into different grades itself. For simplicity and understanding, I thought it would be easier to delineate
these grades based on the road names.
This old building and the garage behind it are located on the northeast corner of the
intersection of HWY's 101 and 112. Although it looks like it, the general store and gas
station for Sappho were located on the northwest corner. The store burned sometime in the
early 2000's. (7/15/06)
intersection of HWY's 101 and 112. Although it looks like it, the general store and gas
station for Sappho were located on the northwest corner. The store burned sometime in the
early 2000's. (7/15/06)
The remains of one of the shop buildings pushed off to
the side after the old camp was cleared. (7/15/06)
the side after the old camp was cleared. (7/15/06)
3 brake shoes and a knuckle coupler at Sappho Camp (7/15/06)
Here is an endview of the same car. Note the skid underneath. This car was one of three that was left
behind on site when the camp was abandoned. About a decade ago some drug users shacked up in
these cars and started a fire. The fire burned the other two to the ground and this one as you can see
was damaged. Unfortunately, in the early summer of 2008, this camp car was destroyed as well. (4/27/08)
behind on site when the camp was abandoned. About a decade ago some drug users shacked up in
these cars and started a fire. The fire burned the other two to the ground and this one as you can see
was damaged. Unfortunately, in the early summer of 2008, this camp car was destroyed as well. (4/27/08)
Here is another Sappho camp car that survived. The car was moved a few miles away from
Sappho to a house near the fish hatchery and used as a chicken coop. The camp car sits
presently beside Pavel Road. (4/27/08)
Sappho to a house near the fish hatchery and used as a chicken coop. The camp car sits
presently beside Pavel Road. (4/27/08)