Western Railroad Discussion > Everett, WA Questions

Going out for a visit family in Everett and have some questions regarding railfanning.  Looking at google maps I see the main shop/service area.  Looking further west I see tracks, along the coast that look accessible via various parks and roads. Any idea of frequency of traffic on that coastline track? Secondly, is there a sidewalk or footpath along the west side of the the bridge that crosses the Snohomish River? Other ideas?

Any help would be appreciated.

Phil

 

philippe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Going out for a visit family in Everett and have
> some questions regarding railfanning.  Looking at
> google maps I see the main shop/service area. 
> Looking further west I see tracks, along the coast
> that look accessible via various parks and roads.
> Any idea of frequency of traffic on that coastline
> track? Secondly, is there a sidewalk or footpath
> along the west side of the the bridge that crosses
> the Snohomish River? Other ideas?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Phil
>
>  

Hey Phil! 

Freight traffic can be spotty, 4 to 16 trains. Mainly coal and oil, with the sprinkling of manifest and garbage trains, along with some stacks, depending on BNSF's mood. The Z/Q trains will run but generally early AM. 

Plenty of Amtrak Cascades and Sounder traffic, along with the Empire Builder. Can access all the parks along the coast line. There is the Boeing local that runs up the hill at Mukilteo but I am not sure when that starts right now. 

There isn't much access of the long flood plain bridge out of Lowell other than the road. Drone would be good if you have one but be mindful of the flight path at Snohomish if you venture further East.

To the North, you'll get empty and loaded coal trains, oil trains, and manifest trains, along with 3 daily Cascades trains to Vancouver BC. 

I was just out that way very recently, it's a cool area to watch trains. The 'coastline track' was pretty busy, I didn't go more than an hour without seeing a train. Good amount of passenger trains were supplemented by probably 15-20 freight trains a day. Mukilteo is a nice place to watch them, either in the area by the ferry/waterfront or down at Picnic Point.

The road bridges over the Snohomish don't have walking paths unfortunately. That line probably got around 8-10 freight trains a day while I was there. There's a parking lot for a trail that goes under the road bridge with a good view of the rail bridge.

Only two Amtrak Cascades trains to and from Vancouver, BC each way.

Thanks for the help folks!

Phil