Western Railroad Discussion > A couple hours in Seattle...

Yesterday morning, I found myself making an unexpected visit to Seattle.

It started Friday afternoon, when I missed my nonstop flight from Austin to visit family in San Francisco. The gate agents were able to rebook me onto a connecting flight via Seattle. I took them up on the offer. I flew from Austin to Seattle, had a short layover, and boarded my connecting flight. We pushed back, taxied for about 20 mins… and then they cancelled the flight and returned to the gate. During the 20 minutes we were waiting for a takeoff slot from SeaTac, our pilots ran out of federally allowed flight time and they had no available crews to relieve them. The gate agent was able to rebook me onto an afternoon flight on Saturday, which left me with a full morning in Seattle. With airport hotels booked up, I decided to find somewhere downtown and take advantage of the inconvenience.

As a result, I spent yesterday morning walking around (and taking photos in) downtown Seattle, which culminated in part in this series of images. I’m not usually inclined to shoot in a 3:4 portrait aspect ratio, but I’m extremely pleased with how this set turned out. Of all the places to be stranded in, you can do much worse than Seattle. 

1-2) A few hours before my flight (and after a nice breakfast at Pike Place Market), I hopped on the LINK Light Rail from my hotel to the International District/Chinatown station. I snapped this train arriving and departing. The trains were absolutely packed all morning yesterday, with crowds swelling even more as it got closer to game time for the Mariners game in the afternoon.

3) At street level from that station, the First Hill Streetcar line runs, connecting Capitol Hill with Pioneer Square. I shot this streetcar while waiting to cross the street.

---

---

---

4) King Street Station is across the street from the International District/Chinatown LINK station, and i walked along 4th Avenue hoping to find some freight action. Near one of the bridges over the tracks by T-Mobile Park, I found this set of light power. It was stopped and then reversed away from me. I'm not totally sure what this crew was doing with the power.

5) A Cascades set from Eugene reverses into the shops in Seattle

6) While I was shooting the light power, a southbound garbage load pulled out of the tunnel under downtown and came to a rest next to King Street Station. Soon, another light power move passed northbound towards Interbay.

---

---

---

7) Southbound garbage loads snake their way through downtown Seattle behind a pair of BNSF motors.  

8) A Cascades set arrives from Portland. Three eras of Amtrak motive power are represented: the F40PH (in the form of the "Cabbage" car NPCU), the P42DC, and the Siemens Charger. Consists like this are living on borrowed time on the Cascades as the new Siemens Airo sets get ready to enter service this winter.

9) Needing to catch my flight, I walked over to the Stadium station and hopped onboard the LINK to get to SeaTac airport. The ride was $3 and gave me a direct shot to the airport. It was a great ride, and only about 10 minutes longer than driving (and is probably faster at rush hour). 

I made my makeup flight to San Francisco, which is where I'm writing this post from now. I'm glad I was able to make the most out of my brief detour, and it has me itching to return for a longer stay soon!

Thanks for viewing!

---

---

---

Great use of time and interesting photos from Seattle!

Rich

The set of light power in your 4th picture was probably from an empty garbage train that just cut away from the garbage intermodal car that you can see at the very left edge of the picture.  They probably had to change ends and wait for the dispatcher to give them permission to change direction and proceed south.  The garbage power almost always parks at the "champ tracks" south of Spokane Street near the Stacy yard.  

atx_railfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I made my makeup flight to San Francisco, which is
> where I'm writing this post from now.

I've enjoyed your California reports before, including those from the SF Bay Area, and very much enjoyed this one from Washington, too.

> I'm glad I was able to make the most out of my brief detour,
> and it has me itching to return for a longer stay soon!

I've been visiting Seattle since when the Waterfront Streetcars were still running more than two decades ago. I have scouted and used various locations, and you used a few of those, too. Very impressed with your compositions, even if I'm not a local and maybe unworthy to say that.

> Thanks for viewing!

Thanks for posting, and hope youi have many visits to the Emerald City in the future!

GREAT postings!!!!   The wife  and I are heading from Portland to Victoria via Seattle and returning on the Talgo before they are history.    Arlen

Three locomotives for 3-cars - AMAZING-!

atx_railfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> 8) A Cascades set arrives from Portland. Three
> eras of Amtrak motive power are represented: the
> F40PH (in the form of the "Cabbage" car NPCU), the
> P42DC, and the Siemens Charger. Consists like this
> are living on borrowed time on the Cascades as the
> new Siemens Airo sets get ready to enter service
> this winter.

cozephyr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Three locomotives for 3-cars - AMAZING-!

Two locomotives.  The cabcar that the P42 is coupled to may have not been allowed to lead.

Very nice series and good use of layover time!

cozephyr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Three locomotives for 3-cars - AMAZING-!

I guess you missed both by picture and by statement that the picture of the Cascades train with engine 72, the "other" unit is number 90230 and is a cab car.

Details matter.

Nice pics!!