Seattle Trains

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Folks,

I live in the UK, but I was recently visiting my brother in Seattle, and was wondering about the local Railroad operations in the area. Although I never got any time to myself to go watch some trains (my sister in law didn’t even know where the station was…) I have a few questions for the experts…

What company were the blue painted locos I caught a glimps off near the docks?

Where is the best location for watching trains go by and/or shunting etc.

If i get a day to myself next time, what is the best run, North to Vancouver or South to Portland?

Regards,

Angus

2

I like North Tacoma myself. They have a overhead bridge there that give us you a good view of the action.

3

could you provide a google map to the area you mentioned? thanks!

4

Was the blue locomotive a freight or passenger locomotive? If it was freight, it must be owned by some contract switching company, or perhaps Boeing. If it was passenger, it could have been Amtrak or Sounder.

5

There were 4 or 5 of them near grain silos, looks like they’d been shunting or bringing the grain in?

The livery was all over blue, a shade not unlike the Con rail livery.

Cheers,

Angus

6

Angus, there are several yards with excellent viewing available from the sidewalks of overhead bridges.

My favorite is north of the city on 15th Avenue NW and West Emerson Street, just south of the Ballard Bridge and Fisherman’s Terminal. The bridge forms an elevated viewpoint for the north end of the Interbay Yard, as well as the roundhouse and loco servicing area. The bridge at Dravus Street, about a kilometer south of this, lets you watch from the middle of the yards.

A great place to combine train watching with other activities, if you have to satisfy non-railfan members of the family, is the Ballard Locks. While the rest of the family is taking in the grounds, including the gardens, fish ladder, dam, and locks, you can be looking west at the double track bascule bridge over the ship canal. It will lower into position to allow southbound trains from Everett, Wenatchee, and points east. Or watch the northbound container stack trains ease over the bridge and slowly gain speed as they exit the span. Great place for phototographers, as well as the occasional oils artist!

Bob

7

The locomitves are owned by the Cargill Grain Corperation and depending on how long you be in the Seattle area you should take a ride on the Spirit of Washington Dinner train form Renton to Woodinville its good ride and good food