Western Railroad Discussion > Scenic Sub at Bridge 6.3 & Carkeek Park, Friday Afternoon

The forecasts last week were calling for Friday to be mostly sunny, but not too warm, so the decision was made once again to head for Bridge 6.3 in Ballard, and then later to Carkeek Park.  The first 6 images are from Bridge 6.3 and the remainder are from Carkeek.

1) 3:33 PM: A northbound (timetable eastbound) oil unit is crossing the Bridge on Main 2, behind ES44AC #6126 and SD70ACe #8484.  On the rear were SD70ACe #8750 and ES44AC #6032.

2) 3:35 PM: The consist of this particular unit train was made up of PPRX cars.

3) 3:36 PM: A view of the train crossing the movable center span of the Bridge.

Continued...

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Next 3:

4) 3:54 PM: Next was a northbound (eastbound) loaded coal unit, also on Main 2, behind three ES44AC's: #6178, CREX #1303, and #5803.  On the rear was SD70ACe #9185.

5) 3:56 PM: A view of the train crossing the Bridge.

6) 4:19 PM: Next was the first northbound (eastbound) Sounder of the afternoon commute, with cabcar #110 leading and F59PHI #903 pushing.

Continued...

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Next 3:

We then headed further north to Carkeek, and in the process missed both the second Sounder and the #8 Empire Builder.

7) 5:24 PM: Here's the third Sounder, with cabcar #103 leading and F59PHI #905 pushing.

8) 5:58 PM: Next was a meet, between a southbound (westbound) manifest on Main 1, with C44-9W #5062 and ES44C4 #6849, and the fourth Sounder on Main 2, with cabcar #303 leading and orca-painted F59PHI #902 pushing.  As seen here, the manifest has just rounded the point, and is already slowing down to wait for the Sounder at the approach signals (at MP 10.38) for CP Blue Ridge (MP 9.1).

9) 6:01 PM: In response to my post of pictures taken at Carkeek on Tuesday, May 10th, "RRTom" had asked if the North Line Sounder trains were all either 2 or 3 cars long, and I had replied that in addition to the first 3 departures consisting of 2 or 3 cars, that as of a few years ago, the fourth departure was 3 cars in length.  As seen here, the fourth departure is now 5 cars long.

Continued...

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Next 3:

10) 6:01 PM: As soon as the Sounder passes, the manifest will get back underway.

11) 6:03 PM: A friendly wave from the cab of #5062 just before it passes under the pedestrian overpass at Carkeek.

12) 6:03 PM: Heading around the bend.

Continued...

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Next 3:

13) 6:04 PM: There were a number of covered hoppers in the manifest: 10 BNSF, 7 BN, and 21 of various reporting marks.  There were 32 cars of other types, with various reporting marks, for a total consist of 70 cars.

14) 6:05 PM: The manifest heads under the absolute signals for CP Blue Ridge.

15) 6:32 PM: Last but not least was a northbound (eastbound) 59-car manifest on Main 2, behind ES44C4 #6552, and C44-9W's #5013 and #4083.

Continued...

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Last 3:

16) 6:33 PM: The power coming around the bend.  Note the windsurfer in the water on the right, who is getting ready to come ashore.  The wind was steady out of the north all afternoon, and there were several windsurfers taking advantage of the conditions.

17) 6:33 PM: Another view of the power.

18) 6:36 PM: Most of the manifest is out of sight on the back side of the S curve, as the last several cars round the point.

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Nice series.

boxcab Wrote:
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> Nice series.

Thank you!