TrainBrain Productions

02/20/2025

My job here in Eastern Washington has me all over the region of north Eastern Washington state and all of north Idaho and even north western Montana... so I have many opportunities to visit the areas short lines and mainline railroads... here's a picture from Kettle Falls Washington... ST.PAUL and pacific northwest railroad working the Boise Cascade plywood plant on a very cold 6 degree day... 2/10/2025

05/27/2019

Thank you to our fallen heroes who have stood and defended this pledge...God bless them all.

05/14/2019

Trying to Make the grade....Washington Eastern RR train HL04 sluggs it out with the 2 percent grade up deep creek at Mcfarlane road... this is the last big obstical for this train to make it to it's destination of Four Lakes and HiLine grain... This train did end up stalling on the hill and had to double to Fourlakes ... Winter railroading on the WER...

04/27/2016

It has been a while since I have given a status update on the progress on my second logging book...Work is steadily proceeding on Volume of the logging railroads of the pacific Northwest series... Volume ...This Volume will be on Oregon State... Photographs are still needed of several Oregon state logging railroads, but maps and text are being produced daily.... Well not quite daily, but they are coming along wonderfully...

Here is a great picture taken by, Brian Jennison of a loaded OC&E(Oregon California & Eastern) log train heading to Klamath Falls, Oregon, as it negotiates the curves just off the Switchbacks on Bly Mountain... The remains of an earlier derailment are seen at the right, as the re-engined former Union Pacific GE locomotives trudge past with the long train shoving hard on their couplers...

01/17/2016

I have been busy working on Volume number two of my Logging railroads of the pacific Northwest book series, "Logging railroads of Oregon state"...Since Volume One of my North West logging railroad series will be out in just over a month I thought that I would let people know that there will definitely be a volume number two, and that I am working on it as I type this message..
this second volume is looking to be even better than Volume one, and I am very excited to be able to work with so many great people in the production of this next volume... Stay tuned for more updates...

Here is one of the railroads that will be showcased in Volume #2... Weyerhaeuser's woods line out of Sycan, Oregon in Southern Oregon... Home to Baldwin end cab switchers and pine forests... a great combination for any logging fan... Photograph by: V.J. Porreca, on july 21, 1977, Gary Durr Collection

12/24/2015

Good news... Today, my book was available to order for pre-sales at Morning sun books..here is the link to morning sun's web site....
Actual release date for the book is March 1, 2015, but if you pre order it, you can pick it up a couple weeks earlier...Here is the link...http://morningsunbooks.com/collections/way-out-west/products/logging-railroads-of-the-pacific-northwest-in-color-volume-1-washington-state

Gary Durr Author Gary Durr takes the reader on a guided tour of the various logging railroads that served the State of Washington during the color film era: We

10/03/2015

Hello All,... First here is a nice picture of Chehalis Western GP-38 Number 817, Switching log cars at Western Junction, Washington... July 1989... A great picture , but not great enough to make the cut for the book...I had to sort through over 1,000 pictures and choose what I thought to be the best... A very Very difficult job indeed...Photographer unknown... My Collection

As for the status of my book....The Final proof copy has been approved for Logging railroads of The Pacific Northwest, Volume One... Washington State...i was hoping that it would be out for purchase by late this year, but It has been scheduled for release the first quarter of 2016... I have to be honest... Morning Sun Books has been absolutely fantastic to work with, and from what I have seen in my proof copy, this book is going to be excellent...I am very excited to see the final product...Thanks to all who have supported me in this book writing adventure, and A big thanks to all those who have showed interest is my book... When I find out more as to an exact release date, I will let every one know...

08/13/2015

Weyerhaeuser's Curtis Milburn and Eastern railroad is seen here as Alco C-415 # 684 is hauling a load of logs across the long low trestle near Ruth, Washington as it heads from the Curtis log yard to the Milwaukee road connection at Chehalis Washington... June 1976... Photographer unknown, My collection... this was a great picture, but I was un-able to use it in my book, as it was just too far away... Still a great scene, and one that I would love to see again...

As for my book, I should have the Proof copy within a couple weeks, and if all goes well, the finished product should be ready and out for release before Christmas this year...I will keep you posted on the progress...

Thank you all for your support... It has been a lot of work, but a whole lot of fun making this book...

07/20/2015

Since my book is now at the Publishers, I thought that I would post a few more pictures that didn't get into the book...Here is a Down Hill Longview, Washington bound log train crossing the old timber trestle called Bridge 5... This was just down hill from MP.14 at about MP 12.5... This bridge was replaced with an Earthen fill and the location became known as "Bridge 5 Fill"....Photograph by: Keith Ardinger, Circa 1975...My Collection