The Train Wreck Dive (Pics & Update below)

After following up on rumors, legends, lies, maps drawn on napkins, and misinformation, I finally found the 1919 train wreck resting in 112' of fresh water.

It's been said that there are two box cars (one you can swim into) and an engine. There is no engine. But there are two box cars and you can swim into one of them. The other one is half buried and closed at the top. (Another car found! See UPDATE at end )

The wreck is located in the northern tip of Lake Pend Orelle, just northeast of Sandpoint Idaho. Look for Trestle Creek Recreation Area, and park near the small dock. The Rec Area has nice grass picnic areas with BBQs and public restrooms.

The entrance is an easy pebble beach. Do a surface swim out along the rock ledge for about 150', then submerge. Continue south along the wall until you see the trench on your right (west) side. Descend into the trench and continue south, hugging the left (east) side of the trench as it descends. When you get to about 45' deep, you should see some old rails for the tracks that collapsed into the lake with the train cars. Keep going. At about 65', look for a "line", which is actually said to be a phone line of some sort (I've also heard it called a string). Much of it may be buried in silt, so if you see a few inches of it, just lift it up and follow it down. It leads right to the cars.

You'll come over the top of the first car at about 92'. All that's left is the base, connector, wheels, supports, but no walls.. The second car is at about 102' and is open at the top (some parts of the hinged door are still there) and you can swim down into it. Because it is open from the top, there is no overhead.

When you swim over the end of the second car and down to the bottom at 112', you can see the large connectors (sorry, don't know correct train terminology) that link the cars together. You can also look under the car and see some axle and wheel parts.

The old train box cars are in remarkably good condition considering their age, which I credit to the cold fresh water. Water temp. today was 62f at the surface and in the mid 40s at depth. There's other train parts scattered throughout the area and lots of bass in the shallows.

We only spent about 12 mins at the train wreck, but had a total bottom time of 50 mins. We were on air, but this would be a perfect dive for 32%, which I'll have next time.

It was extremely satisfying to finally find the rumored train cars I've been hunting down for over a year now.

Sincere thanks to Joe, owner of AA Diving in Sandpoint, ID for getting the crucial information I needed from a local diver who has actually dived the site.

Update:

I'm writing this a year later.  My training was not up to diving deeper that the first 2 cars. But today, as a part of my IANTD Advanced Rec Trimix class, my instructor & I tied a line to the deepest part of the end of the two cars and explored another 10' deeper (125', fresh water, 46 degrees, 8' vis).

We didn't find the engine. But we did find another box car! Top-loader, open on both sides in better condition than the other cars. We just got a quick look at it before we came to turn time. Very fun!

Smiled all the way through our deco!

 

PICTURES taken 08/06

Remember, in 1919, most people were still traveling on horseback.  In northern Idaho, it was basically still the cowboy days.