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Big Bend Country { 22 images } Created 6 Aug 2016

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  • The Big Bend Country is geographically defined by the large swooping curve of the Columbia River that encircles a large portion of eastern Washington State. With soil and climate well suited for the growing of wheat, it is the economic and cultural backbone of this region. <br />
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Not only has the land been sculpted to grow wheat, the landscape has been altered to support the farms, communities, and infrastructure necessary to grow and move wheat from field to market. The railroad was instrumental in settling this region, developing the economy and still plays a vital transportation role. Adjacent to the tracks, the grain marketers built the largest and tallest structures on this landscape; the elevators which store the harvest until it is sold.<br />
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Between the farmer, the railroad and the communities, most of the land in this region has been transformed by wheat in one way or another. In the Big Bend Country, the economy of wheat and aesthetics of the altered land are inseparable.
    Big Bend Statement
  • A short train of loaded hopper cars enters Davenport. The train will stop here to refuel before continuing on to Cheney Junction.
    Entering Davenport
  • All the ingredients of a typical one trick town in the Eastern Washington wheat country; wheat fields to the edge of town, farms for the growers, elevators and silos to store the crop, the railroad to move the wheat to market. An Eastern Washington Gateway train approaches Mondovi with 11 loads bound for market.
    One Trick Town
  • The basic elements of the economy in Wilbur, Washington.
    Pillars of Wilbur
  • Dillion Haus takes a break as his brother works the field in the family combine.
    Harvest Break
  • At the BNSF interchange in Cheney, WA, the road crew of the Eastern Washington Gateway train watch the arrival of an incoming train of empty hopper cars which they will take down their line for loading.
    To Be Distributed
  • Having traveled 108 miles from Cheney over a two-day period, the crew has finally reached the end of the line at Coulee City with 55 cars to spot. They will leave the power here for the night and drive two hours back to Cheney. Tomorrow after the elevator has finished loading the cars, they will start the journey back again.
    Approaching Coulee City
  • At Coulee City, a car loader waits for a hopper to fill.
    Hopper Loader
  • The small town of Goven once had all the hallmarks of a stable town with a station, post office, school, business district and grain elevators. Through fire and attrition, most has disapperared except the elevtors and 11 determined residents.
    Quite Govan
  • Over time, some farmers gave up or sold out to bigger farms. This abandoned farm house sits outside of Hartline.
    Quiting Time
  • This barn sign reflects a way of life in the region.
    Staff of LIfe
  • Passing the elevators of Davenport, crewmen from the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad  prepare to switch a car.
    Switching Davenport
  • Outside Davenport, the small hertiage musum called Vintage Harvest uses a vintage grain haul truck to promote its attraction.
    Vintage Harvest
  • For the Davenport Union Warehouse Co., no order is too small and when a wheat order came in for a single hopper carload of wheat, the crew sprang into action. Since the variety of wheat ordered was in a facility across from the tracks, a company truck was used to transfer the required bushels to the car loader. It took ten trips and involved 5 people to do this; a loader, a truck driver, elevator unloader, hopper car loader and a supervisior.
    Special Order
  • The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry organization meeting halls dot the region....this one in Mondovi is typical.
    Grange 822
  • An employee of the Davenport Union Warehouse Co guides the loader as it fills a hopper car with grain.
    The Sentinel
  • With a single "hot" car in tow, an Easten Washington Gateway train heads east towards the BNSF Interchnage at Chenney.
    One for the Road
  • A typical farm in the Big Bend.
    The Backbone
  • At Almira, it takes just a single man to load 20 hopper cars.
    The Loader
  • An old sign outside Hartline points the way to various family farms.
    Community
  • A loaded unit grain train heads west towards a Pacific coast port.
    The Grain Gateway
  • Just past the last elevator in Coulee City, a dense group of shrubbery mark the end of line
    End of the Line