Economy delays sale of Eastside Corridor

Thankfully, it's only delayed and not deferred! The sale will go through once the value of some bonds increases.

Local News | Economy delays BNSF rail-line sale to Port of Seattle | Seattle Times Newspaper

Love For Trains Starts Early

If you're visiting WARail, you probably like a thing or two about railroading! It's clear that a typical railfan's love for trains must have started somewhere. For me, maybe it was the Northern Pacific and Milwaukee Road running through my backyard in Preston when I was young. I recall following with great interest and sadness when I heard that the tracks had been pulled, the Issaquah Trestle blown up, and no more trains would be running through. Or maybe it was my friend Jeff, whose Dad and Grandfather had both worked for the Great Northern. Maybe it was the UP and BN running in front of my college apartment in Pullman at all hours of the night; while I was irritated by the blaring but federally-mandated horn blowing of the UP, it was balanced out by the BN giving mere peeps from their horns at hours between 10pm and 6am.

Given my history with trains, I'm mostly to blame for my oldest son's love for a visit track side whenever we have the chance. While gas prices have really cut into those times, we value the opportunities we have to go search for trains in various parts of Seattle. And thanks to railroading, he has at least one healthy interest that can keep him away from unhealthy ones that could get him in trouble later. He draws trains now, and knows more about the BNSF than most 6-7 year olds. We don't have just one train set at home...we have various types of train sets from several manufacturers. He can speak more knowledgably about the Milwaukee Road than any other kid in the 1st grade, and can tell a yard switcher from a road switcher.

What I mean to say is that this pursuit of ours - Railfanning - is in my opinion a healthy thing to share with kids, and easily one that could occupy their time later in life when more dangerous pursuits could creep into their lives. My hope for David - and his brother Jack - is that trains are something they can enjoy as adults like we do, and then pass on to their kids.

What got you into trains and railroading? Share your comments below!

UP: Railroading Turns 160 Years Old in Chicago

Okay, so this post has only indirect relation to Washington and WARail, but a Railroad turning 160 Years Old in Chicago is quite a feat, and a huge piece of American history!

Motive Power and Mt. Rainier

Yes, it's true...I'm a photo junkie. I take photos for my own enjoyment and for family archives. However my skills with a camera aren't good enough to be consistently published on Railpictures.net (that's a whole other story that I will share offline with anyone who asks). I continue to experiment, both with digital and film, hoping for that next shot that just makes me go "whoa..."

This one, despite the grainy nature, is still one of my favorites. The only way to get the shot was to max out my digital zoom on the Olympus C4040, which made the picture kind of fuzzy. But I took the shot anyway, knowing that it wouldn't win awards but would document a Mt. Rainier that overwhelms everything within 100 miles on a clear day; and for me, blending trains with big mountain was a perfect idea.

Location is near the intersection of S. Norwalk Street and Airport Way South, just north of the Tukwila city line. You can see the Boeing Access Road behind the engines.

From the Workhorse Files

BNSF 6868 is an SD40-2, built as ATSF 5140. Check out the length of the nose, which is the reason for this unit's nickname of "The Snoot!"

King Street Station: Clocks Are Right On Time

The King Street Station clocks have been fixed and are showing the correct time again after a long silence!

Seattle P-I: Time no longer frozen on King Street Station clocks