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Marvelous! What a fine look at this wonderful man who did so much for the preservation of railroad history and whose legacy lives at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive. Thank you, and thank you, JMF!

My great grandfather worked for the company for many years. Ralph Martin Towner.

What a wonderful man, and a treasure when it comes to all things Northern Pacific. Rest in peace, sir...

Just wondering what the status is on this project ... the preview certainly has piqued my curiosity.

Really nice

Wonderful video. Talk about the job of your dreams!

Rest in peace, Jim. His work with Charles Wood using his photographs of Northern Pacific. I got the pleasure of meeting him 5 years ago. His knowledge was beyond amazing.

Jim Fredrickson passed on to an eternal ride on the NORTH COAST LIMITED late last week. Throughout the 1990s and into the first decade of the new century Jim honored me by escorting rail tours all over the United States and Canada for my tour company, Rail Travel Center and much more by his friendship and boundless kindness. Jim possessed a deep passion for trains, of course, but also for American history, beautiful scenery and for never forgetting a friend or colleague. His vast photography archive (over 11,000 images are cataloged by the NP Railway Historical Society), will serve as his most lasting monument. Jim had a poet's eye not only for trains, but for the place of the railroad in nature and for eloquently memorializing the people who worked on the trains and the passengers who rode them. The basement of his home in Tacoma contained an astonishing record of the late 20th century in the Pacific Northwest. Never forgetting his college training at the University of Washington, Jim meticulously catalogued his vast collection not only of timetables, company documents, photography and such treasures as the original plans for Tacoma Union Station, but also recollections of FDR's secret trips in WWII to the northwest and of the evolution of the region. This remarkable treasure has happily been preserved in the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives. But I remember Jim the most for his wonderful work as a tour escort. Here he got to share his passions with nice folks from all over the world, to relive the days of railway organized group travel to the national parks and to show new friends his deep love for history, the rail industry and his country. Jim always carried a loose-leaf notebook, carefully organized with details to share for each day of the trips he led. He brought along appropriate examples of his superb photography, copies of NP (and other railway) timetables, route guides and shared these notes in cogent, well delivered talks and more importantly in person to person chats with each member of his tour groups. If there was a problem (a late train, a hotel with slow bag handling), Jim simply quietly handled it. He was the best, always and above all else he honored me by being a friend. I will miss him every time I see or ride a train, every time I visit a national park and most of all when I view his wonderful legacy of photographs and revisit his lovely books of recollections of a life with the rails. A giant has passed and we are all diminished when such a wonderful person leaves us, but Jim Fredrickson will live on in the books he wrote, the photos he took that so exquisitely encapsulated his life and most of all in the memory of his co-workers, colleagues and his vast legion of friends. Carl Fowler President (Retired) Rail Travel Center/Rail Travel Adventures

The headquarters of the Northern Pacific were actually in St.Paul, Mn where the railroad started and they would have division points and the Tacoma depot was used for there Washington operations.. but not there General offices.

Really nice!

It`s coming along nicely. Keep up the good work!

I have been a fan of Jim`s for years. I attended a slide show he did at the main branch library about 20 years ago. His photos have been invaluable to me.

There are some really neat interior photos of this old dining car at their website. Search Northern Pacific Dining car Tacoma. They also have a Facebook account under "Northern Pacific Car". Hope to see this car restored!

Do join the NPRHA and receive its quarterly magazine. Also consider getting involved with the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives. Jim and others like him are main reason both groups exist. And some of what you see here lives on as a result. I hope the person asking about locomotive 2626 got his answer. The NPRHA or the PNRA both have, or have access to these type answers. This is an awesome video of an awsome guy

wonna trade trip for trip I am on the Smith in northern calif come check my page out Great job!! gotchahookedfishtrip. also talkfishin. has some videos he has done for me a outdoor internet mag guy

this is one awesome video. this is the person to talk to about Northern Pacific

Dave. I think we work for the same company. If u ever want to fish the cowlitz just let me know. We are always going. Jake from nisqually

This guy IS Tacoma.I am glad to see this!

Thank you, this has been added to our playlists...

This has been added to our history playlists here, and on facebook, thanks...

I can't imagine the expense that will be required to bring the interior and exterior back to like-new condition. GOOD LUCK!

Wow, so that's where they took that car... Had been sitting there all my life.. Glad it is being taken care of. Still odd to see the space where it sat empty.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see NP history preserved!! My grandmother who passed away in Butte, Montana in October 2009 loved to ride the North Coast Limited. She told me stories when I was growing up about riding the NP to Seattle. She loved taking the train. So I'm excited to hear about this project!!

What is the status of this project? I'm a member of the NP Historical Society...have you gone to them for help?

I really need to join the NP Historical Society...but does anyone know why the Timken Four Aces was scarpped if the Timken Company was trying to purchase it?

I enjoyed the experience of eating in diners during 1960's rail travel. I ate more than once in the Northern Pacific diner in August, 1965. The elegance of tablecloths on tables and of fine food choices still resides in my memory. Ordering was always done by writing with a stub pencil on a pad.

I had the unforgettable opportunity to ride the Northern Pacific passenger line from Fargo, ND to Seattle in August, 1965. It took about 36 hours and it was a great way to see great scenery and meet total strangers and strike up friendships. I took many slides during the trip but sadly, they've gotten lost.

Thanks for such a well-produced video about this classic dining car. Dave really is articulate and I think his talk about the car & the importance of preserving & restoring it will bring more interest & support of this vital project. I think if there was more passenger train travel in the US, more people would support the restoration our great trains. Off-topic: Patron tequila company has a beautifully restored train car on the tracks now. I think it's the Patron Express.

Being an avid NP fan, I well know Mr. Fredrickson's work in preserving the NP, and really, the way railroading was -- what a great piece! Who did the video?