Western Railroad Discussion > GN Bascule Bridge in Seattle

Here's some footage to get you acquainted or maybe re-acquainted to the BNSF crossing of the Salmon bay at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

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Nice video of a busy rail line. I love to hang out at the Ballard locks watching vessels and trains.

Posted from Android

I have been there back in the 1970s.
You can watch the locks from the north side park.
Great Drone work -- Thanks.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Thanks! How often would that bridge open on a "normal" day?

sums007 Wrote:
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> Thanks! How often would that bridge open on a
> "normal" day?

I'm not there frequently enough to say. But, seems like about half the times I show up, the bridge is raised.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

Thanks, Steve.

DelMonteX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sums007 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thanks! How often would that bridge open on a
> > "normal" day?
>
> I'm not there frequently enough to say. But,
> seems like about half the times I show up, the
> bridge is raised.

Right. The bridge operators usually open for a boat and leave it up until a train is coming, leave it down until the next boat and on and on. During "boating season" when the pleasure craft abound, there are way more boats than trains. I had 1st trick Sunday on Seattle East. My only important train was AMTK 7. When 7 left Edmonds, I would call the bridge: No 7 eleven minutes. He knew the lockmaster. There would always be some sort of difficulty that would keep the lock from disgorging a fleet of sailboats until 7 was by.

One day No 3 (ZCICSSE etc.) was delayed for quite a while by a big pleasure boat sailing in circles under the bridge, everyone on board in an apparent drunken stupor. He had to call for the police harbor patrol to come move them.

TAW