September 2, 1938 was the day that the Grand Coulee Dam car skip was completed for use. The $30,000 incline allowed fully loaded railroad cars to be lowered from the regular government railroad, at the west end of the dam, down to the trestle deck spanning the top of the dam construction area. The skip connected the two levels that were 130 feet apart in height with a 200-foot-long incline. Measured another way, the grade was a shockingly steep 80%. Railroad cars would be rolled on a platform over the skip runway. The platform would then roll downhill with the aid of a counterweight. A hoist brought the cars back up. Countless boxcars of material were lowered this way, as well as all of the 18-foot diameter penstock pieces that were constructed at the steel plant next to the railroad yard at Electric City. The skip was only used for a short duration during the construction of the dam.

Dan Bolyard,

Them Dam Writers online

Image courtesy

Coulee Pioneer Museum