Mark Sidran, Chairman of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, has written this vital opinion piece called Train safety: Stop, look, listen — live. The WUTC investigates all railroad fatalities. Anyone who comes in contact with tracks should read it - plain and simple.
Mark goes the distance to discuss safety and easy steps to keep yourself alive around the tracks. He also mentions by name the same people who have recently died on the tracks this year in Washington. It's a sad and avoidable end that I personally would like to see decrease in number over the coming years. My hope, like it has always been, is that their deaths aren't forgotten and that somehow at least one person will consider the danger the tracks represent.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Seattle and North Coast Video - 1982
Thankfully someone caught this short line on video before its demise! The Seattle & North Coast ran on former Milwaukee Road trackage on the Olympic Peninsula and had a very small yard in Seattle for the boat ride to Port Townsend. It's a shame it didn't last, because it operated in one of the most beautiful places in the state.
This blog post at Mile 15 gives a quick history of the SCN.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Northern Pacific Freight in Tacoma - 1888
Found this Government Archive photo today, showing the crew from the schooner Oscar and Hattie unloading the first halibut catch to be shipped on the Northern Pacific in Tacoma, September 20, 1888. The boxcar can be seen in the right side of the photo.The Oscar and Hattie was one of a trio of fishing vessels that sailed from Massachusetts to the North Pacific, going around South America to get there. How times have changed!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Forbes: "Rails Running Hot"
Forbes currently sees the rail industry as a business sector that continues to make money despite an economic downturn. In fact they contend that the economy may not be as bad as some might say, considering the quantity and variety of the products that are running the rails. 2006 and 2007 turned out to be banner years for the rail industry, and 2008 is also turning out to be good as well.
Considering that locomotives are three times as efficient as big rigs (when you consider tonnage versus fuel efficiency), it's no surprise that rail carriers are seeing increased interest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
