This is the story of how I originally found the Camas Prairie Railroad and subsequently decided to make a video on it.

My first contact with the Camas Prairie was when Helmut and I returned from a railfanning trip during which we covered amongst other things, Provo, Ogden, Soldier Summit, the 8444 at Minturn, Royal Gorge, Alamosa, Cumbres and Toltec Narrow Gauge, Denver, the Craig Local, all in search of cabooses. On the way back home on Highway 95 through Idaho, we ran across the Camas Prairie Railroad at Grangeville.

I was able to get a caboose ride on the train from Grangeville to Craigmont. All the shots taken from the caboose date from this event.

On my return home, my curiosity aroused, I started doing some research on the Camas and contacting many of the knowledgeable people regarding this railroad. This led to contacts with Rolland Meyers, Jim Davies and many others. Rolland has of course graciously contributed the locomotive ride portion of the video down the canyon from Reubens Spalding Jct.

All pictures depicted below (and above) are taken directly from the video in low-res mode and compressed in jpg format..

The Video starts off at Grangeville in the Prairies with the first stop at Fenn where our particular train had to water up an engine.

We pass over a number of small trestles and bridges including one at mile 58.

on our way to Cottonwood. While the train crew switches at Cottonwood we are given a tour of the caboose describing many of its features.

Leaving over the Cottonwood Trestle.

we pass over more great trestles

just out of Ferdinand

and shortly after over Ferdinand Trestle

and soon the spectacular Lawyers Canyon bridge

and Lawyers Canyon from the caboose

and soon to arrive at Craigmont. Then through sunny downtown Reubens where we board the locomotive for some truly awesome front end shots as we change from prairie to canyon. Through numerous tunnels and trestles all marked with their respective mileages, including this one at Mile 23.

Above picture pulled from Rolland Meyers' footage in the video

Also including the famous Halfmoon trestle,

Above picture pulled from Marcam Productions footage in the video

past daylighted tunnel 2, crossing Highway 95 twice and across Rock Creek trestle which is also featured on the front cover of the video.

(and the caboose)

Through Culdesac

and Lapwai with a couple more pacing shots and on to Spalding Junction

where we meet up with the First and Fourth subs, then through Forebay Yard and into Lewiston.

All the above shots are taken directly from the video and are in low res.

CabRick Video Productions.

Page designed by Helmut.