Jalopnik Repost: Ten Worst Train Stations

Jalopnik typically writes about auto-related issues, because they're gear heads and like big diesels. But in an odd twist recently they wrote about the Ten Worst Train Stations in The World. It's a real crop.

Their post goes hand-in-hand with another blog post from The Infrastructurist on Eleven train stations that got the wrecking ball (six more listed HERE).

Great reading!

Video - SDRX 904 Pushing Sounder

4/17/2009 - I just barely got out of my truck when this Sounder started blowing its way through the Spokane Street crossing. A quick power finger and a steady hand caught it on video heading north to King Street Station!

Last Sounder of The Day

Shot this picture at the intersection of 3rd Avenue S. and S. Horton Street in SODO. This was the last Sounder train heading back to Tacoma for the day on April 21st. The picture is "tweaked" a bit; I removed all the power lines from the shot. I also got some help with composition and lighting from another railfan - Thanks Robert! The shot is definitely grainy; it was cheap ISO200 film, but good practice for future shots.

SDRX 904 is an EMD F59PHI, a 3200hp locomotive designed for passenger trains. Top speed is listed as 110mph.

Porters - Historic Heroes of The Rails

As part of America's Black History Month, Seattle Times today reported that Railway Porters - historically a job filled by men of color - are being honored next week in Oakland as pioneers in civil rights. This vital part of the railway service industry broke barriers starting just after the Civil War, with many former slaves joining the railroads to tend to needs of passengers. The job came with newfound freedoms, but also its fair share of racism. Because of this, porters are being considered the lamplight to a movement that ensured rights to everyone, and ultimately ushered in our country's first Black President.

The picture is of Nat Love, famous cowboy better known as "Deadwood Dick" and railway porter. Don't you just love history?

Amtrak Leavenworth Station NOT a Bust!

Wow, talk about turnaround!

Within hours of the last blog post about Leavenworth's Icicle Station, I received an email from a Leavenworth Real Estate agent telling me the project was actually a go. He then put me in touch with the mayor of Leavenworth, who told me it's active and moving forward.

"We have passed 65% construction documents and will have our 100% plans on Jan 15, 2009," he says. "We will go out to bid for construction in Feb, with construction anticipated to start mid-March 2009. We are currently working on our agreements with Amtrak for Operations and Maintenance. We are estimating service start in mid to late September 2009."

So now we've got a clear idea of what's going on. Visit the Icicle Station Website or read the Official Press Release from the City of Leavenworth HERE!

Amtrak Leavenworth Station a Bust?

Back in January the Seattle PI reported that Amtrak was adding a new Leavenworth Station. I dutifully added my blog post with a map. Since that time there apparently has been zero movement on the project, and repeated contact with the town officials who championed the project for so many years have gone unanswered. Amtrak is even telling me they have no plans to build a station there.

So unless we hear otherwise, we can imagine that folks won't be stopping in Leavenworth while on the Empire Builder any time soon.

$1 Billion Pricetag on Eastside Rail Upgrades

Ouch!

With a purchase price of $107 million, spending another billion and change is obviously a hard sell. I still think it's a good investment for the future, but can understand why people are gritting their teeth and squinting heavily when seeing the costs involved.