Granger Line Blueprints: GN's Mansfield Branch

One of the most geographically-intriguing wheat lines in the Pacific Northwest was the Great Northern's Mansfield Branch. Constructed in 1910, the Mansfield branch was one the last wheat lines constructed, the other being Milwaukee's Marcellus branch the same year. Both lines were classic grangers: light rail, low traffic density, boxcar only.















WATERVILLE RAILWAY Co.
During the era of railroad construction, small towns lived and died depending upon their proximity to a railroad. When bypassed by a rail line, the town government essentially had two options: relocate the town to the rail line, or build their own railroad to connect with the national rail network. In 1910, Waterville, WA, Douglas county seat, incorporated and operated the five mile long Waterville Railway Co. to interchange with the GN at Douglas. Post-War prosperity eluded the company, flood damage ultimately led to abandonment in 1954.




The only other example of desperation building was the Nez Perce & Idaho Railway, founded to connect the town of Nez Perce with the Camas Prairie's Grangeville branch.