Today's Then and Now segment celebrates the mainline running past what used to be called The Concrete Cheeseburger - King County's own Kingdome Stadium. John C. Benson took the above "Then" photo in 1981 in a spot that is now occupied by an exit ramp from I-90. BN 98 (here's another picture from 1977) was an EMD SW1 built prior to 1950 for the Great Northern Railway, based on the shape of the cab. The final days of this unit are unclear, but SW1 switchers were operating on U.S. railroads well into the 1990sThe "Now" photo was taken as close to the original spot as I could get without leaving my truck (and two sons) in a dangerous spot at the off-ramp:
Qwest Field is built in the footprint of the Kingdome after it was imploded in 2000, a mere 24 years after it hosted the first Seahawks game (they lost). This is a very busy part of the BNSF mainline through Seattle; commuter trains, Amtrak, and freight all run the same tracks, with 50+ "movements" per day being common!
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I enjoy your "before and after" shots! BN 98, nee GN 98 is an SW-2, not -1, 800hp switcher. She was built 6/51, SN 13304, retired 4/82, and sold to Colorado & Eastern, 6/82.
ReplyDeleteIt's great having this follow up info. Thanks Robert!
ReplyDeleteOld follow up here.
ReplyDeleteAs a dedicated follower of the BN, the 98 is actually an EMD SW8, but this purchase by the GN was designated as their SW-2, as Robert notes. GN had Alcos with the SW designation.
Dan