Cascade Green Rarity?

A rarity? Probably not, at least in other parts of the nation. But around Seattle these older big SDs aren't seen much.

One thing that is interesting: 12 years after the BNSF merger, we are still seeing a lot of Cascade Green left over from the Burlington Northern days. Heck, we see a lot of Warbonnet too. I can't even fathom the magnitude of the undertaking to repaint all the locomotives this company owns. And in the end there really isn't much point if you can just paint "BNSF" on the side and get back to work!

Stevens Pass - Wellington Avalanche of 1910

Everett Herald: Stevens Pass train disaster of 1910: History's valuable lesson

"They know that Mother Nature has the upper hand.."

Truer words never spoken. The 1910 avalanche that killed 96 (and possibly more) on Stevens Pass continues to reign supreme as the worst avalanche disaster in U.S. History. With all the snow that has fallen in the Cascades this winter, visions of 1910 have returned with the unfortunate loss of at 9 people so far this year.

This newspaper article is a great compilation of historic data, plus accounts handed down to descendants of first responders and victims. Martin Burwash, quoted as a rail historian in the article, also is quite shot with a camera and specializes in Black & White photography. You can see some of his rail photos HERE.

Graffiti removed from South Lake Union streetcar

Local News | Graffiti removed from South Lake Union streetcar | Seattle Times Newspaper

Graffiti is considered by some to be "art" and "free expression." I call bull. Despite the artistic element, it's destructive and tends to be done to private property - property owned by people who don't own spray cans.

Suggestion to taggers: "Find your own piece of property to paint, and then put it behind a fence in an industrial park. Maybe you'll experience what the rest of us do."

Palouse Sunset and a GP30M

This Mike Bjork photo combines two of my favorite things - a Palouse Sunset and an EMD GP30.

What are some of my other favorite things? Pie, lots of it. Cars that are older than me. Two cylinders, two tires and 50mpg.

Nice work Mike!

Yakima Under Wire - 1971

Drew Jacksich took this RailPictures.Net Photo of a GE B+B Electric with Yakima Valley Transportation in 1971. It's nice to see these photos from eras gone by. YVT is not well known, but was a subsidiary of Union Pacific (hence the colors) and abandoned by the railroad in 1985. A portion of the right-of-way still operates the Yakima Valley Trolley.

Great footage of the YVT can also be seen on a nicely priced video from Green Frog - Pacific Northwest Kaleidoscope. Check out more of Drew's photos HERE. Thanks Drew for a great picture!