Western Railroad Discussion > Day 3 of Sea Level Snow in the Tacoma Area

Day 3 in Western Washington’s Snowmageddon.Saturday evening and Sunday morning were mostly clear.  Even a few hours of sun on Sunday. 

1) Sunset at Tacoma Rail’s Muni Yard. 

2) TR 3802 has hold of an Oil train headed to U.S. Oil. 

3) Sunday morning Job 105 has the 3802 and the oil train.  Actually swapping out cuts of cars with the lower half of the oil frozen for another train with oil they could unload. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/19 09:31 by DelMonteX.

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4) Right next door was Job 104 with TR 1522 switching a few industries. 

5) Here’s what Job 105 has to switch.  The head end is in the far upper left corner.  

6) Job 105 is shoving back to grab a cut of cars.  

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/19 09:31 by DelMonteX.

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7) They’ve just made the hook and are about ready to “pull on ‘em”.  Can you find Job 104? 

8) Job 104 is about ready to set out the flat car with the steel sheets.  

9) Another view of 104. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/19 09:31 by DelMonteX.

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10) Interesting track work.   The tangent to the right ends about 100’ away.   The curve to the right leads back to the Muni Yard. The curve to the left is where Job 104 is and the tangent to the left is the track 105 is using to access U.S. Oil.  

11) Even Mt Rainier was visible for a time, overlooking the Puget Sound Area.  

12) Job 104 has finished they work.  I’m guessing they’re tying down the 1522 because there’s no way for them to get back to the Muni yard.  105 Blocking them to the west, and in the other direction is a UP stack train.   Could be it just time for a break. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/19 09:32 by DelMonteX.

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13) Here’s the UP stack train.  It’s pulled through the yard and up fairly close to the TR jobs, so as to be able to setout their train in a couple of tracks.  

14) Just as I wished, the train stopped in just the right place so I could get this shot.  

15) Tacoma Rail services power for both UP and BNSF, which if course includes whatever railroad’s engines they might drag in, like this CSX unit. 

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/19 09:32 by DelMonteX.

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16) Switching gears, I headed for the south Puget Sound.  There were some ominous clouds rolling in to from the west and I figured the light would be gone soon.  First up was Cascades 502 with AMTK 506 for power, headed to Tacoma at Day Island.  The Drone has a bit of shutter lag, and my timing was off, so this was the best shot.  Check out the sea level snow! 

17) A quick spin and the going away shot looks pretty good.   

18) I was hoping for a meet here, but that was off a by a couple of miles.  The Starlight meet the Cascades train just south of the Nelson Bennett tunnel.

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

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19) Close out the collection with a UP stack train crossing Bridge 14 with a bit of snow.  The clouds in the background were the vanguard for the next storm.   As I type this another 2 inches of snow has fallen. Stopped for now, but more is predicted for tomorrow, and possibly every day until next Sunday.  

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

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Awesome photos ! Thanks for posting these.

Adam

Fantastic photos!  Really great work.

That drawbridge in the last photo is very interesting.

TacomaRail looks like a very interesting operation--reminds me of the Modesto & Empire Traction--lots of warehouses still using carload rail service, which is great.

Excellent shots!

Nice model railroad (LOL) & awesome pictures.
I am really liking the different prospective that drones offer.
The tank cars in #5 & 7, are they Ethanol or Oil?

Tim
Hanesworth

Fantastic series!   Those are some wild track arrangements with various industrial leads crossing each other, especially the track cutting across all the leads into the oil facility.

-Tom

Drones have really opened up the "viewing world".  Thanks.

Snow is everywhere... snowed in Las Vegas last night. Great shots of yours.

GREAT BUNCH!
JB

Oil!   TR also delivers cars of "additive", much fewer than the oil tank cars. 

In image 7, the single track that cuts across the oil unloading tracks, leads to the unloading tracks for additive cars.    And in image 12, the 1522 is tied down on that same track. 

sp8234 Wrote:
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> Nice model railroad (LOL) & awesome pictures.
> I am really liking the different prospective that
> drones offer.
> The tank cars in #5 & 7, are they Ethanol or Oil?
>
> Tim
> Hanesworth

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

coach Wrote:
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>
> That drawbridge in the last photo is very
> interesting.
>

Yes- I've always been interested in these kinds of structures. This bridge is really unique-
never have seen one like it.

Steve Carter- thanks for the Series; beautiful images, well composed.
 

Thanks!

Here's a link to blog that discusses the history of the bridge.


http://www.oil-electric.com/2009/06/bridge-14-de-mystified.html



OldPorter Wrote:
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> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > That drawbridge in the last photo is very
> > interesting.
> >
>
> Yes- I've always been interested in these kinds of
> structures. This bridge is really unique-
> never have seen one like it.
>
> Steve Carter- thanks for the Series; beautiful
> images, well composed.
>  

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

Well Steve you out-did yourself with this one. I can't remember coverage of the tank farm before but very nice with all the different angles. The curved diamond in photo 10 is also neato-keeno.

BB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/19 13:18 by bmarti7.

Stunning work!  Wow!  I've never seen the tanker train yards from that angle.  Great job.