651 Miles Electrified -- September 17, 2017

Washington Times, 26-September-1917

This ad for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad touts the extension of the electrification of its Pacific Division, which helped deal with steep grades and tight curves.  The electrification reached Tacoma in 1920.  The Pacific Division never generated enough traffic.  The Milwaukee Road dropped the electrification in 1974.  The line went bankrupt in 1977 and most of the Pacific Division was abandoned by 1980.