Camas Prairie train operations part 3: Along the Clearwater River

The Kamiah Local, trains 881 and 882

The first subdivision, from Lewiston to Stites, saw quite a bit of train traffic in 1967.   The Camas Prairie Railroad operated as many as seven trains east of Lewiston.  Locals operated both directions between Lewiston and Kamiah (pronounced Kam-ee-eye). 

The first subdivision is a water level route, with gentle grades, following the Clearwater River.  The line crossed the Clearwater River twice before reaching Stites, just east of Spalding and again, just west of Kamiah.


Trains 881 and 882 operated six days a week, with 882 off on Saturday and 881 off on Sunday.  These locals operated with one engine due to the weight restriction on Bridge 50, a swing bridge over the Clearwater River, at Kamiah.

The traffic generated between Arrow and Stites was predominantly forest products. Some grain shipped from elevators at Cherrylane, Lenore, Greer, Kamiah and Kooskia (pronounced Koos-kee), but the forest products dominated.

Potlatch operated lumber mills at North Lapwai and Kamiah.  There were additional independent lumber mills at Orofino (pronounced Or-oh-feen-oh), Kamiah, Kooskia and Stites; and, pole manufacturers at Ahsahka, Kamiah and Kooskia.

Most of this lumber traffic also moved in boxcars, though Bennett-Shearer lumber in Kooskia pioneered the use of early center beam or A-frame flat cars. These cars were introduced in the late 1960's and used exclusively by Bennett-Shearer Lumber.  The pole yards shipped cedar poles in 65-foot gondolas or flat cars with idler cars, whichever the parent railroads supplied.

This going away shot of train 881 near Cherrylane in 1967 shows 24 commercials headed into Lewiston.  The train is mostly 40 and 50 foot boxcars.  Check out the B&O "wagon top" boxcar 2nd from the rear!  John Henderson photo, Jim Davis collection. 

Another view off train 881 near Lenore on June 30, 1968.  Again there are several 40 and 50 foot boxcars along with a couple of tanks cars and a flat car. The larger of the two is an empty propane tank from Blue Flame Gas in Kooskia.  The other tank car is an empty fuel or oil tank car likely from one of the distributors in Orofino.   Richard Yaremko collection. 

The Army Corps of Engineers started preliminary construction of Dworshak dam, a few miles upriver on the North Fork from Ahsahka, in 1962 and by 1967, was ready to make the concrete for the dam.  During the summer of 1967, the railroad built a third track at Ahsahka to unload cement and fly ash for the dam construction.  This inbound traffic was significant, amounting to several cars a week in 100 ton, two and three bay type covered hoppers.

Train 882, the eastward Kamiah Local, started its day mid morning at Lewiston, usually departing by 8:00 AM, handling local switching chores at all the stations on the first subdivision.  

Meanwhile, train 881, the westward Kamiah Local, built its train at Kamiah departing sometime after 8:00 AM.  Employee Time Table 112 shows a scheduled meet between these two trains at Orofino, but sidings at Ahsahka and Peck were long enough to meet trains, allowing the meet to take place further west than Orofino when 882 ran late.

Several industry spurs in Orofino were located on the fourth subdivision in what was called “the new yard”. There was no switch engine assignment in Orofino to switch these industries.  There were also several street crossings making it impractical for the Headquarters Logger to switch cars at the New Yard industries while dragging 85 cars of logs and plywood into the main yard on the first subdivision.   

With 3-½ hours shown in 881’s schedule at Orofino, it is likely that 881 cut away from the train and ran up the fourth subdivision to switch these industries.  I make this assertion based on the operating practices of the mid 1970’s when an Orofino based Kamiah turn did this work 

882 also had a 3-½ hour pad in its schedule at Orofino.  This was needed for the station work along the way at North Lapwai, Cherrylane, Lenore, Ahsahka and Orofino. 

After departing Orofino, 882 delivered cars to the few industries along the line until reaching Kamiah.  At Kamiah, there was considerable industry work.  The Potlatch Lumber mill, Clearwater Lumber Mill, two pole yards and a grain elevator could all receive cars for loading. 



Train 882 in August of 1969 at the east end of Kamiah.  Another 40 foot boxcar!  Notice the two gons for pole loading and the flatcar load of machinery to an unknown destination.  Also, the train is powered by NP GP18 382, probably an additional unit assigned during the grain harvest.  Jim Shaw photo.

 Beyond Kamiah, the crew of 882 operated to Kooskia and Stites if needed switching the industries in those locations.  Once finished, they would return to Kamiah to tie up over night.  This would be the next day’s 881.

After completing its work at Orofino, 881 picked up cars at stations en route to Lewiston. The train usually arrived in the main yard in Lewiston in the early afternoon with the commercials for the same day’s 859, the Downriver Local and NP 662, the Highball.