Difference between revisions of "Dupont Powder Works"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
<span class="paracap">I</span>'''n''' 1906 the E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company expanded its explosives manufacturing by purchasing 3,200 acres of land on the shore of the southern reaches of Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington. This location provided the company with access to ocean going ships and the Northern Pacific Railroad for shipments of materials in and shipment of explosives out of the facility. A three foot gauge railroad was established to connect the widely spaced manufacturing buildings together forming a 17 mile network of track. The facility opened in September 1909 with the railroad initially powered by horse and gravity, such as the long downgrade to the shipping pier on the Sound. However the unreliability of both methods of propulsion, causing explosions due to derailment, lead the company to quickly convert to mechanical power. In July 1910 the first Baldwin 0-4-0 gasoline powered locomotive was purchased. Over the years the locomotive fleet increased to include three Baldwin locomotives and four Plymouth locomotives. The locomotives were powered by gasoline and then later converted to diesel. | |||
The facility was built to manufacture dynamite and continued to do so until 1976 after manufacturing over one billion pounds of explosive. The railroad was removed along with the manufacturing buildings. A new town of Dupont took its place with extensive golf courses on much of the remediated land contaminated by the manufacture of the explosives. However a short section of track exists in a subway under the Northern Pacific Railroad and along the shore of the Sound to the point where the tracks went on to the wharf. The last Plymouth locomotive and a train of cars | The facility was built to manufacture dynamite and continued to do so until 1976 after manufacturing over one billion pounds of explosive. The railroad was removed along with the manufacturing buildings. A new town of Dupont took its place with extensive golf courses on much of the remediated land contaminated by the manufacture of the explosives. However a short section of track exists in a subway under the Northern Pacific Railroad and along the shore of the Sound to the point where the tracks went on to the wharf. The last Plymouth locomotive and a train of cars are on display at the [https://www.dupontmuseum.com/ Dupont Historical Museum, Dupont, Washington]. | ||
Sources: | Sources: | ||
:''The Tacoma Daily News'', May 12, 1910 | |||
:Crooks, Jennifer, and Drew Crooks. ''Dupont''. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2019. | :Crooks, Jennifer, and Drew Crooks. ''Dupont''. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2019. | ||
:[https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/id/2531/rec/2 ''Baldwin Locomotive Works, Electric & Gasoline Locomotive Class Roster''. DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.] | :[https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/rwy/id/2531/rec/2 ''Baldwin Locomotive Works, Electric & Gasoline Locomotive Class Roster''. DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:26, 3 March 2023
Washington / Industrial / Dupont Powder Works
History
In 1906 the E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company expanded its explosives manufacturing by purchasing 3,200 acres of land on the shore of the southern reaches of Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington. This location provided the company with access to ocean going ships and the Northern Pacific Railroad for shipments of materials in and shipment of explosives out of the facility. A three foot gauge railroad was established to connect the widely spaced manufacturing buildings together forming a 17 mile network of track. The facility opened in September 1909 with the railroad initially powered by horse and gravity, such as the long downgrade to the shipping pier on the Sound. However the unreliability of both methods of propulsion, causing explosions due to derailment, lead the company to quickly convert to mechanical power. In July 1910 the first Baldwin 0-4-0 gasoline powered locomotive was purchased. Over the years the locomotive fleet increased to include three Baldwin locomotives and four Plymouth locomotives. The locomotives were powered by gasoline and then later converted to diesel.
The facility was built to manufacture dynamite and continued to do so until 1976 after manufacturing over one billion pounds of explosive. The railroad was removed along with the manufacturing buildings. A new town of Dupont took its place with extensive golf courses on much of the remediated land contaminated by the manufacture of the explosives. However a short section of track exists in a subway under the Northern Pacific Railroad and along the shore of the Sound to the point where the tracks went on to the wharf. The last Plymouth locomotive and a train of cars are on display at the Dupont Historical Museum, Dupont, Washington.
Sources:
- The Tacoma Daily News, May 12, 1910
- Crooks, Jennifer, and Drew Crooks. Dupont. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2019.
- Baldwin Locomotive Works, Electric & Gasoline Locomotive Class Roster. DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.
Reference Material Available Online
Equipment Rosters