TRAIN ENTHUSIAST KEEPS ALIVE SPOKANE'S TIES TO RAILROADING

Art Putnam is a railroad nut.

He collects photographs, books, train orders, calendars,brochures and memorabilia from the golden days of rail.

Putnam, 37, wants to preserve the history not only forhimself, but for other rail fans as well. He thinks Spokane shouldhave a rail museum filled with the kind of stuff he's beencollecting for nearly 15 years.

But Putnam isn't into just any old railroad.

He is captivated by the history of the Spokane, Portland &Seattle Railroad, a line that operated for some 70 years until itwas merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1979.

"Basically, I buy anything SP&S," he said.

His love for the SP&S comes partly from the fact that it wasa large railroad operating solely in the Pacific Northwest.

The company executives fostered a family-like atmosphere, hesaid, and railroad employees were proud of the quality of servicethey gave to passengers and shippers alike. Its demise was foughtby SP&S loyalists who wanted to preserve the line's unique spot inrailroad lore.

A visit to the basement of Putnam's North Side home is likeentering a small museum.

On a wall is a 1958 calendar with a diesel locomotive pullingfreight down the Columbia River alongside a hydroelectric dam. Thisis a picture of industry and motion that in itself is a commentaryon the era.

At the center of his hobby room is a model train layoutcomplete with replicas of the old shops and roundhouse at Hillyard.

Scattered around are old lanterns, an SP&S coffee mug and adinner plate set. Tucked away are dinner placemats and stationeryfrom the passenger club car. Putnam even has a complete set ofchina from SP&S passenger service.

But the heart of his collection are photographs of oldlocomotives. He said he buys them at estate sales, from oldrailroad collectors and at antique shops.

A photo album is filled with images of industrial might inthe form of steam and diesel locomotives. He has pictures of theold No. 700 steam locomotive that was assembled in Hillyard and hasnow been restored in Portland.

His favorite locomotive, he said, is an F-3 diesel that wasused to haul passenger trains in the 1950s. He sells framed copiesof the diesel parked in front of the old shop in Hillyard for $35.The buildings have been torn down.

"I'm sad to see all that go," Putnam said.

"As a boy, I'd take my bicycle and sneak over to Hillyard andwatch the trains."

In fact, he said, he still goes out to Parkwater at nightsometimes just to watch trains.

Railroading was once such an important industry in Spokanethat the community still has lots of rich railroad history tuckedaway in closets and basements.

Putnam said he's discovered that retired railroaders andtheir families often possess historical memorabilia that should bepreserved.

After all, the history of railroading is inseparable from therise of Spokane, he said.

To get his message out, Putnam has opened an SP&S home pageon the Internet and offers readers a chance to participate in hisquest to stay in touch with the past.

"There is a lot to learn from the history," he said.