Washington Railblog

End Of The Line

2010-01-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

This is the final post at Washington Railblog.

When I started WARail back in late 2007, it was with excitement that I decided to share my love for railroading with the world. Blogging is the perfect format to share the things I've picked up around the area. In just over 2 years the blog has amassed over 300 posts, ranging from news bits, the need for safety, and photos related to railroading in The Evergreen State. I'm proud of what I've accomplished with the blog, and learned much from the posting and the interaction with other railroading enthusiasts. Ultimately it brought out the desire to do more photography, because WARail gave me an outlet to post and share railroad photos with others in the area.

But from this day forward, all my rail-related articles will be posted at Wet Rails in the Seattle P-I's "Reader Blog" area; this allows me to post in a way that better matches my interests and needs. The topics and content will be much the same, and for me there is access to a larger number of readers. I've also noticed - so far - that more people comment on my Wet Rails post than ever did on WARail. Comments shared by readers help me steer the message, among other things.

Since there are over 300 posts here, I will keep WARail online as an archive of sorts for the foreseeable future at web address http://warailusa.blogspot.com. If you are interested in other rail-related blogs, please visit some of these great selections:

Oil-Electric - Railroading history, tied to photo from the past
Lost Rail - Focused on highlighting what's left of The Milwaukee Road in the The West
Dog Caught - Rail Photo Blog
SDP45 - Washington historical railroading documents put in perspective
Seattle Sub - Central Puget Sound Photo Blog

Thanks to all who have visited and commented on Washington Railblog during its active time. I look forward to hearing from you at Wet Rails in the future!

Merry Christmas from Washington Railblog

2009-12-25T03:22:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have a safe and sane Holiday, whether it's with family or trackside. This is a great day to take stock in the things that life has given us all. Here's to a great 2010!

Cheers,

Kurt

Port of Seattle Completes Purchase of Woodinville Sub

2009-12-22T05:33:00.000-08:00

Local News | Port of Seattle complete rail corridor purchase | Seattle Times Newspaper

It's finally done! Final purchase price: $81 million for 42 miles of track.

After six years of BNSF efforts to sell the line, it is now in public hands, specifically the Port, King County, Sound Transit, city of Redmond, Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Water Alliance. Some of the partners want the line's transportation benefits while others want to use the right of way for utilities or foot traffic. Reports have GNP Railway and Ballard Terminal Railroad serving the freight traffic that still exists on the north end of the line.

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Journal of Commerce article: http://www.joc.com/node/415418
Seattle Times article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com...apwarailcorridor.html

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-26T06:25:00.001-08:00

Sunrise on the train tracks, originally uploaded by Kathy~.

Today most of America will be hanging out with friends and family to eat, laugh, relax, eat, watch football, eat, and then eat. Even if this is not your agenda for Thanksgiving, keep the spirit of the day alive with a simple thought of something to be thankful for.

Enjoy the day, no matter what it brings!

Kurt

Eastern Washington Gateway - Biodiesel and Deer

2009-11-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

From Eastern Washington Gateway 2009

In the Summer of 2008 I commented on an article about Eastern Washington Gateway testing biodiesel in one of their locomotives. Just last month I got an email from a 10 year old girl in New Mexico on the subject, asking if the test was successful. I was able to get in contact with Bruce Butler of the EWGR, who not only replied to the girl with some sweet photos but also brought us all up to date on their testing:

We are not using the biodiesel anymore as the plant where they made it has closed. To the best of my knowledge the biodiesel worked just fine in the one locomotive (8925, a EMD model SD45) that we used it in, but with the plant closing, we lost our source. I have attached a couple of pictures of the 8925. #313 shows the 8925 being fueled from a truck. You should know that these locomotives can move a lot of weight for the fuel that they use; they are much more fuel efficient than trucks.

We see a lot of deer along our railroad. For some reason, they run alongside of the train, rather than away from the tracks. I haven't hit any of them yet, but we have had some close calls. Picture #612 shows a young mule deer doing almost 30 mph alongside of the train.

We haul a lot of wheat. Picture 689 shows a loaded grain train near Hite WA. It is after harvest, so the grain fields in the picture have already been cut. Picture 589 shows the fields right at harvest time; the field on the left hasn't been harvested yet while the field on the right has already been cut. Picture 590 shows a combine at work harvesting wheat. All of these pictures were taken from the train. You get to see things that you never see anyplace else. We do have some scenic areas on our railroad; picture 105 shows a view from the Engineer's seat last winter.

Regards,
Bruce Butler

Check out Bruce's pictures from along the line. If you don't see the slideshow below, click HERE to view the photos in Picasa!

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Photo Link: http://picasaweb.google.com...
Blog: http://www.warail.com

Woodinville Sub Sale to Close Soon

2009-11-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

Mark December 15th on your calendars, because after that time the BNSF Woodinville Subdivision will be under new ownership! Price: $107 million.

Since we are in tough financial times, a group of buyers joined forces to save this right-of-way from abandonment. And here's the best part: the new owners will include Port of Seattle, King County, Sound Transit, and the City of Redmond. The northern part is still being used for freight, and will be operated by the Port. An email from their spokesperson a few months ago indicated that they were still looking for a short-line carrier to manage the line; sadly, the Temple family - owners of Washington Central and the Dinner Train - chose not to bid at that time. Redmond is interested in the stretch between Woodinville and Redmond for trail and rail access. I've long considered this portion to be a sleeper of sorts, because it runs from the busiest part of Woodinville to the busiest part of Redmond. Also imagine this: an interurban ride between the two cities through the valley and surrounded by some of the finest views in East King County. Sweet!

King County is still interested in building into their extensive trail system, and considers this corridor a vital link to many of those trails already in use. With 100 feet of right-of-way in many spots along the Woodinville Sub, operating both rails and trails can be a reality. Will Sound Transit's Link Light Rail run on part of this route? Only time and planning will tell.

Ever since late 2005, when BNSF announced that the line was for sale, I've been watching this activity as closely as possible. I even started a simple one-page website called Save The Railroad to get the word out that a priceless opportunity was ahead. That one page put me in touch with several of our elected leaders and a fair share of community organizations who were all interested in seeing the line used for the good of all. It was a great lesson in activism. Redmond's current vision for their part of of purchase mirrors almost exactly the idea I had for it back in early 2006. Amazing!

Frankly I'm thrilled to see this sale happen for several reasons. Keeping rail on this route is far too important for addressing future transportation needs. Creating more trail opportunities also makes me happy, because they not only create safer routes for peds and bicycles, but also a place for rail fans to potentially see trains up close from the safety of a dedicated walkway.

Kudos to all the groups involved!
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Article Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010221495_raildeal07m.html
More Subject Reading: http://www.warail.com/search?q=woodinville+subdivision

BNSF 1030 Night Shot

2009-11-03T11:21:00.001-08:00

BNSF 1030 Night Shot, originally uploaded by KDavidClark.

It's not very often that these three items cross paths: The Moon, BNSF 1030, and a passing Union Pacific unit train of hoppers. I took this photo with my $35 Olympus 4MP digital. Despite the age, and so-called 'smaller' megapixel size, it has the handy feature of Night Shot - allowing for the equivalent of a 4-second open shutter.

The conditions outside that night were almost completely dark (short of the moon and stair lighting on the locomotive) and the camera had very little to even grab for auto-focus. The resulting shot had a lot of digital noise that thankfully went away when I converted it to a filtered grey scale and used the Despeckle feature in Photoshop Elements 6.

The cropping is wide and skinny on purpose; it seemed to be the type of border that called out to me based on what was in the shot!

Mile-Long Union Pacific Dead Line

2009-09-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

It started with about 15 engines a few months ago. Tired-looking veterans in a variety of conditions. Some were faded, some were burned, and others were tagged with spray paint. They represented models owned by the UP that we rarely see here in the Seattle area. Older boxey GEs, "Triclops" SD60Ms, Snoots (SD40s with long low noses), etc. The line, now two tracks wide, is literally a mile long. Why they are there, I can only guess. My thought, considering the overall condition of each one, is that this is a dead line. Given the economy and reduced rail traffic lately, it would make sense to trim the herd of engines that have become costly to repair.

Here are three examples of what is sitting there, and media from their earlier lives:

2279, 9115, and 2371 sitting together, Sept 27 2009

UP 9115 - GE C40-8 (Dash 8-40C) Built: 12/1987

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1029152

UP 2371 - EMD SD60M "Triclops" Built: 8/1989

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=987148

UP 2279 - EMD SD60M "Triclops" Built: 4/1989

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=155040

Seattle Archive Trolley Photo, 1929

2009-09-23T13:14:00.001-07:00

Harbor Ave SW, 1929, originally uploaded by Seattle Municipal Archives.

History - especially Seattle history - really hooks me. What's amazing is that the region has been populated long enough now to have a diverse sense of what has gone on here for centuries. It's common to locate photos now that are well over 100 years old, with scenes that can be duplicated to some degree. Today's photo, sadly, would be a tough one for Now & Then.

This photo was taken looking toward West Seattle in 1929; the house near the middle of the photo is at 3039 SW Manning Street, which still stands. The tracks - for the most part - still exist on the right. To duplicate this photo today would be nearly impossible, as the area is covered in bridges and viaducts.

Thanks to Seattle Municipal Archives on Flickr for this great shot!

View Larger Map

Seconda Amtrak Cascades in Vancouver BC

2009-08-28T05:35:00.001-07:00

Amtrak #513 Cascades Departing Vancouver, BC, originally uploaded by R R Horne.

While corresponding with my buddy Oil-Electric, he wrote that another railfan north of the border in BC caught an image showing one of the first runs of the second Amtrak Cascades train visiting Vancouver. That image, by RR Horne, captures the Cascades in early morning light on its way south.

Now our northern neighbors get two Cascades a day!

Video - BNSF & UP Meet in Vancouver WA

2009-08-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

BNSF #4582 Meets UP #7772 in Vancouver, WA
by Tran77

Sit back for the next four minutes or so and check out the embedded video above. If you don't see it, click HERE to view directly in DailyMotion!

SR 519 Starts to Span SODO Tracks

2009-08-10T22:05:00.001-07:00

SR 519 girder setting 1, originally uploaded by Washington State Dept of Transportation.

The girders are being put in place, and the overpass of this infamous crossing in SODO will soon be a reality. Royal Brougham Way at this crossing has been on this blog a number of times in the past, with people getting clipped by trains and even one getting a wheelchair stuck in the tracks. All instances reported occurred when people went around the crossing gates.

I looked at the plans for this overpass, and they're pretty awesome. It's a complicated plan to complete this Phase of the State Route 519 project, which makes it easier for goods to move back and forth to the port. But to me the safety element being created here is really important, and quite frankly makes for some great pictures.

Pentrex Ending Video Tape Sales July 31st

2009-07-30T12:38:00.001-07:00

SONY 5850 3/4" VCR with SMPTE code reader installed! $50, originally uploaded by Great Deals Every Day.

As a railfan, you may know the name Pentrex; they have provided train nuts like me with truckloads of railroading video entertainment for more than two decades. Not only do they offer their own content, but also the entire catalog from Video Rails. Son David's favorite Pentrex products are mostly video tapes, ones we've picked up over the years at clearance racks, surfside bookstores, and on eBay. They include:

- Those Incredible ALCOs Volume II
- Snow On The Run
- Trains Along The Upper Mississippi
- Above California Rails

Now Pentrex is focusing their business on DVDs only, and ending all sales of video tapes after July 31st. So for one more day they are offering most of their VCR Tapes for $9.95 each! Final chance to get some great railroading tapes for cheap, if you still have a VCR like we do. Railroading media (books, magazines, DVDs etc) tend to be expensive since it's a niche market, so an opportunity like this one is a great way to get the good stuff for cut rate; and we all know how important that is right now!

My order has been placed, and we'll be receiving:

- Battle For Donner Pass
- Street Running

Hope you find something good too!

Clouds and Double Stacks

2009-07-28T22:51:00.001-07:00

The Rain on Plain, originally uploaded by steveeshom.

Steve Eshom got this stunning shot of clouds above double stacks in Chelan County. Let's face it: unless you're really into taking pictures of locomotives, by themselves, sitting on tracks in a yard, getting out into the weather and catching those same locomotives in their element can be very rewarding! I'll admit that I do like to take "roster shots," but catching something like this would be my Holy Grail.

Happy Independance Day!

2009-07-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of BL1961 on Flickr

Here's to a day whose real reason is lost on so many, buried under one-day sales and family get-togethers. If I could ask for one thing today, it would be that everyone have a chance to experience freedom in some measure.

Enjoy the day everyone!

Jalopnik Repost: Ten Worst Train Stations

2009-07-03T03:51:00.000-07:00

Jalopnik typically writes about auto-related issues, because they're gear heads and like big diesels. But in an odd twist recently they wrote about the Ten Worst Train Stations in The World. It's a real crop.

Their post goes hand-in-hand with another blog post from The Infrastructurist on Eleven train stations that got the wrecking ball (six more listed HERE).

Great reading!

Video - Sound Transit Light Rail Testing

2009-07-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

Oran Viriyincy posted this video of Light Rail testing in the Rainier Valley. It's 9 minutes of crossings, honks, bells, and traffic. Great stuff when you like trains, that's for sure!

If you can't see the embedded video below, click HERE to see it directly on YouTube.

Waiting...

2009-06-25T09:07:00.001-07:00

"The past is behind me. My destiny is on the other side of that tank car. For now, I stand and wait."

Photo: DSC09011, originally uploaded by emilie_roulet

Track Fatality in Seattle

2009-06-20T23:31:00.000-07:00

A man was killed on Saturday night on the tracks at Carkeek Park, according to this KIRO write-up. The locomotive horn scattered a number of people who were on the tracks, and the one killed was the one who didn't move. The group was not at a sanctioned crossing.

This sad tale is repeated every year along that line, at Golden Gardens and Carkeek. My heart goes out to the family and friends of this man.

View Larger Map

Random 1892 Wreck Photo in Ontario

2009-06-20T07:26:00.001-07:00

Collision between two engines, Bay of Quinte Railway, ON, 1892, originally uploaded by Musée McCord Museum.

UP Railroad Crossing Sting

2009-06-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Awesome...UP and law enforcement got together and cited about 40 people with $140 infractions for crossing against the flashing lights in Centralia. The two comments posted in the article? "It's crooked," and "they're defrauding people."

I'll tell you what's crooked: the spine of a person who gets T-boned by a Big ACE at a crossing when they don't heed the warnings. UP just got done with the same sting in North Idaho; the reaction there was more amiable, understanding the risk and accepting the tickets.

I wonder what's different between the two areas! Here's a link to the KIRO Article about the Centralia sting:

Police Use Train In Railroad Crossing Sting - Seattle News Story - KIRO Seattle

View Centralia on Map

BNSF 6185 - Then and Now

2009-06-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

Recently I did a piece on SD9 BNSF 1551, which is still trucking around Balmer Yard like an old soldier. Putting that post together made me think of a Interbay deadline occupant that my son and I photographed back in 2003 and 2004, also an SD9 numbered 6185. In order to get the shot, I had to climb ont the bed rail of my truck and stabilize myself against the cab - all in the effort to get the camera line above the fence between the road and the deadline (click HERE to see the location on a Google Map). Like 1551 this SD9 made it to the 21st century, only to be retired early into the decade. I had posted the pic above in an earlier post, but decided to expand a bit on this engine.

6185 started life as CB&Q 438 in 1957. Photos of 438 don't seem to exist so, thanks to Joe Hughes and #430, this is what 438 would have looked like in 1965:

Photo courtesy of Joe Hughes

By 1969 the unit may have received this paint scheme, portrayed here by CBQ 439:

Photo courtesy of Joe Hughes

BN Merger brought a new number, and it became 6185. By 1982 it was working Interbay, pictured HERE. By 2004 it was tied up in the yard and apparently done working. In April 2009, a picture was taken of the "new" BNSF 6185 in Ohio.

There aren't any details on what happened to the old SD9, but I'm certain it hasn't survived.

BNSF Exploring Electrification

2009-06-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.railwayage.com/content/view/931/121/

Great Railway Age article about BNSF exploring the idea of electrifying some of its mainlines, by getting power from utility companies who want to use the railroad right-of-way for building out their services. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Let's get ~~EMD~~ GE to build an homage to the Little Joe and unleash them in Eastern WA!

Photo - UP Georgetown Lo-Fidelity

2009-06-10T00:27:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of a Holga? I hadn't until about two years ago, when the world of Lomography was introduced to me merely by chance when searching for something on Amazon.com. Since I don't want to duplicate posts, read my personal blog if you want to know more about Holgas:

http://www.clarkblog.net/2009/06/foo-photo-my-first-holga-roll.html

Anyway, the above photo was one from the first roll of film I shot with a Holga. After he viewed the resulting slide show, one of the comments I got from a high school friend was:

"I liked the slide show, all very cool pics, the train pics almost look depression era, except the locomotive is a bit too new."

If the Holga does anything well, it's paying homage to The Depression! It's a great camera to release yourself from the world of editing your shots and placing you smack dab in the world of just taking pictures. What freedom!

Video - Train Report for School Project

2009-06-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

My son was able to do a video report about trains for his class, and this is the result. He picked the media, took a lot of the photos and footage, and even chose the song used for the soundtrack. I edited, but tried to keep his voice primary in the video. You won't find much data accuracy here; David explains switcher movements in the rail yard as "fooling around." It's cool that he has a desire to explain what he sees in terms he understands. What you will discover by watching this is that an elementary schooler knows more about things like Balmer Yard and Amtrak Cascades than a lot of other kids his age!

Bottom line: starting kids early on trains can give them a reason to explore other things like video editing or photography, two areas that my son has already expressed interest in. If you don't see the embedded video below, click HERE to watch it directly on YouTube!