Didrik Voss' "Everett & Monte Cristo Railway"

All photographs by Keith Thompson

   

The Everett & Monte Cristo built two switchbacks, one just below the town site of Monte Cristo and one just beyond town to reach the United Concentration Company's plant.  Both required extensive trestle work due to the rugged terrain and the confluence of the Sauk River, Glacier Creek, 76 Creek and Sunday Creek within a few feet of the railroad facilities in Monte Cristo.  Several yard tracks, a depot, freight  house, turntable and engine house were built on the only available piece of level ground at the foot of Dumas Street.  It wasn't long before Dumas street featured a hotel, market, drug store,  several saloons and even a newspaper.  By 1894 the town was the typical rough-hewn mining town.  By the summer of 1895 the town was electrified and a school house had been built.

 

  

 

 

 
 

Having arrived in Monte Cristo, #3 has cut off it's train in front of the depot and is working its way up the upper switch back to retrieve a carload of concentrates bound for the smelter in Evereett.  To the right of the locomotive and above the passenger car is Dumas Street.  Dumas Street was paved with timber in order to combat the mud that came along with an abundance of snow and rain.

 
 

 

 

 

 

  
   
 

 

The timetable calls for a 2:30 p.m. departure from Monte Cristo and #3 is leaving right on time.  In about 3 hours, passengers and freight will arrive back in Everett at the Everett & Monte Cristo depot at the foot of Pacific Avenue.

   
   

Hit Counter