[1935 TRIP TO SKAGIT RIVER PROJECT]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1935

Description: Shot by an unknown American amateur filmmaker, this incredible 1934-36 era, silent 16mm home movie shows a trip to the Skagit River Project. It is well produced, with title cards throughout. The film shows a train ride down the gorge to the Diablo power house, and a trip in an odd type of cable railway / incline lift up the mountain. The film begins with a shot of a family leaving their home and getting into what appears to be a 1924 Buick Duchess. Large crowds of people are shown waiting for the train to arrive. At :57, Seattle City Light Railroad Locomotive #6 arrives at what is probably Rockport, to begin the ride up the river to the Diablo dam. At 1:00, shots of the river and gorge as viewed from the train. At 1:44, arrival at The Gorge Inn, where visitors spent the night. At 2:00, guests pose for the camera before taking a trip to see the power house, by crossing a long bridge. The power house is shown at 2:30. At 2:38, the next phase of the trip -- taking an electric locomotive-pulled train to Diablo. There are views again of scenery out of the train windows. At 3:20 exceptional images of the incline lift aka Diablo Incline Railroad that transported visitors to the top of the dam in that era. The large size of the lift is due to the fact that it once took rail cars one by one sideways up Sourdough Mountain. At 3:50, shots from above the top of the dam showing spillways. Now, next phase of the trip begins with a twelve mile boat trip on Diablo Lake at 4:20. At 4:58 a title card explains "The White Line indicates the Site of the Ruby Dam". At 5:59, tourists disembark from the boat at Lake Diablo, and view the Diablo Dam and its spillways at 6:20. At 6:34 the incline lift is shown again in operation, bringing travelers back to the power house.