Tugboat Joseph T.

Photo by Cliff West

My dad, Cliff West, photographed the Foss tugboat Joseph T. on the Columbia River at Rainier, Oregon, in August or September of 2006. This tugboat was built in 1975 by the Marine Power and Equipment Incorporated of Seattle, Washington, as the Georgeann for the Samson Tug and Barge Company Incorporated of Sitka, Alaska. In 1988, this tugboat was acquired by the Brix Maritime Company of Seattle, Washington, and was renamed Olympic. In 1993, the Brix Maritime Company was acquired by the Foss Maritime Company of Seattle, Washington, and this tugboat was renamed Joseph T. The Joseph T. is 73.5 feet long, with a hull 27.2 feet wide and 11.1 feet deep. Rated at 2,250 horsepower, it is powered by two Caterpillar D-399 engines with Caterpillar 7261 reduction gears driving two stainless steel, four-bladed 88-inch by 58-inch fixed pitch propellers. This was near the end of this tugboats career on the west coast, as later in 2006, the Joseph T. would be transferred to the Foss subsidiary Constellation Maritime Company of Manchester, Massachusetts, and was renamed Scorpius.

Albany Railroad Depot

 I originally posted this information on my old website on March 26, 2009, and last updated it on December 18, 2009.

Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

The Albany depot was completed in 1909 for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

This depot replaced a previous depot at the same location. 

Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

This depot has remained in continuous operation since it was built.

Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

The depot is currently served by Amtrak's Coast Starlight and Cascades trains.

Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

An $11.5 million renovation project began in May of 2004 and the depot was dedicated in April of 2006.

Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

Historical Photos:
Train at old Albany depot, 1895 (Salem Public Library)
Train at old Albany depot, 1900 (Salem Public Library)
Horsecar at new Albany depot, 1908 (Salem Public Library)

Depot Sign in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

Depot Sign in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

Interior of Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

Interior of Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

Clock Tower at Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

The clock tower was constructed in December 2006 and January 2007 at a cost of $140,000.

Clock Tower at Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

The tower is 60 feet tall and the base is 6 feet square.

Clock Tower at Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

The 4-foot-diameter clocks were donated by the Greater Albany Rotary Club.

Clock Tower at Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

The "ALBANY" letters are 2 feet tall.

Clock Tower at Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

The tower has a steel frame with a masonry veneer, including about 2,500 ornamental, sand-colored bricks.

Clock Tower at Depot in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

REA Building in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

The adjacent 1,500-square-foot Railway Express Agency building on the east end of the depot was last used as offices and a dispatch center for the Union Pacific Railroad.

REA Building in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

As of 2007, this building was vacant.

REA Building in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

The building is to be restored and renovated to serve as the offices for the Albany Transit System.

REA Building & Depot in Albany, Oregon on August 31, 2006

REA Building in Albany, Oregon on December 4, 2007

Clock Tower & REA Building in Albany on December 4, 2007