I would like to photograph freight trains running over Stevens Pass in WA state - does anyone know how to find out when trains are scheduled to run over the pass? And where someone can park (without trespassing on BNSF property) to view trains and take pictures? I’m not opposed to hiking in if that’s what it takes. Any advice would be helpful - thanks!
About 20 years ago I drove up next to the west portal of the Cascade Tunnel, and I don’t recall any no trespassing signs on the road itself. Google Earth shows the Old Cascade Hwy takes off fom US 2 near the tunnel, and runs along the track by the portal. I understand that it takes about a half hour for the smoke to clear from the tunnel between trains.
HPH,
I grew up in Wenatchee and made lots of trips to Seattle via US 2 and the GN. I am going to assume you drive west to east.
Don’t worry about schedules. Ths big issue is clearing the air in the Cascade Tunnel, which takes ABOUT 30 minutes. Transit time is 15-30 minutes. Figure another 10-15 minutes to clear up at Scenic or Berne. If trains are running opposite directions it works out to one an hour, at best. Grade is 1.6% ascending eastward through the tunnel, 2.2% on the long approach grades. Figure about an hour between trains at Scenic (West end) and Berne (East End).
The west approach, from Monroe to Goldbar, is parallelled by US 2 which lies north of the railroad. This puts you on wrong side of the sun. Good news is that for most of the year it will be rainy and/or cloudy so you will have soft light and the north side may not be too bad.
If you are somewhere between adventureous and foolhardy this stretch between Monroe and Goldbar is the only place you can pace the train and odds are you will loose him when you hit the next small town in five or six miles. US 2 is two lane here. You can safely follow along until you guy meets someone and then follow that one the other way.
Goldbar has a small yard and it is possible you may find a train layed down here.
About three miles East of Goldbar, you will pass under the railorad and the road will climb a little hill. The drive in about a mile east of the bridge and west of the hill has long been a favorite stopping place. Have not been recently, but is worth investigating. Last I know it was called Zeke’s and had a wooden NP caboose. You can shoot from highway shoulder on hill east of Zekes IF trees not too grown up. You should take the side trip into Index to see what you can. In this area you can get shots with Mt. Index in the background which I recommend.
Above Index is catch as catch can. There is a back road to Sunset Falls that seems a favorite for catching trains on th
Steve Carter (used to post here as “Otter Cove”) put up some spectacular photos of that area here about 5 years ago. Unfortunately, I don’t know if they’re still accessible, or how to search for them. A few of his photos can be seen at:
http://www.pbase.com/ottercove/railroad&page=7
- Paul North.
Mac did an excellent job, and I haven’t much to add.
Up the Iron Goat Trail is an excellent viewpoint on the western portal of the in-use Cascade Tunnel. If you chose to go this route, have an appropriate telephoto lens and hiking equipment. Nearby is an abandoned GN tunnel on the original alignment.
I highly recommend the bridges just to the east of Gold Bar. The eastern one is most dramatic.
Watch your speed in the small towns on US 2 from Everett to Skykomish, as the local police love to catch speeders in that stretch.
Also, as Mac says, consider going a few miles east of Wenatchee to Trinidad Loop. Excellent spot. The bridge over the Columbia is a distinctive double truss design.
Thanks, Mac. Sounds like there should be plenty of opportunities to see trains, even if the lighting is so-so (glad you pointed that out, not something I had considered).
Outstanding post, Mac! There are trainspotting books that don’t have that amount of insider information.