Western Railroad Discussion > Stampede Pass (WA) question

Do all grain, coal, oil trains go east via Stampede Pass? Especially coming from Portland and Vancouver, WA? Thanks!

Mark Kennebeck
Saint Paul, MN

Mostly grain and some oil. All the coal trains are going to Roberts Bank in Canada and most often goes empty eastbound over Stevens, unless it's detoured for some reason. Most of the oil is also going to refineries north of Everett and returns over Stevens as well, but some oil goes to Tacoma and a couple places in Oregon, so that could go over Stampede.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

For quite a few years BNSF used Stampede Pass as a return route for E/B mty coal and grain trains returning from Seattle area destinations to the midwest. With permission from the RR & Unions a " Triangle Pool " was established. In exchange for crews running 3 days straight, they were then guaranteed 3 days off. As Stampede Pass has never been upgraded for higher clearances, the normal pattern was mostly coal or grain mtys East, with enroute layovers in Pasco & Portland. The 3rd day was a return to Seattle area terminals. This pool was discontinued a year or so ago. A BNSF engineer I know really liked the Triangle Pool, as it was called.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/26 14:54 by Aprefugee.

Triangle is still around

Posted from Android

Are there any regularly scheduled through freights over Stampede these days or is it only adhoc extras? 

GP40 Wrote:
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> Are there any regularly scheduled through freights
> over Stampede these days or is it only adhoc
> extras? 

All through trains are extras.

The Pasco-Yakima turn is a scheduled job, but as the name implies, turns in Yakima after working industries there, and interchanging with the short line. The 'extra PYT' runs on Saturdays during daylight hours, departing Pasco in the morning. The regularly scheduled M-F PYT runs in darkness almost all the way.

Posted from Android

I hate to admit that I've never fully understood how that triangle pool worked, in other words, where the crews originated and where they wound up their three-day tour of duty. I'm sure there's a Trainorders member who knows. 

BoostedFridge Wrote:
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>
> The Pasco-Yakima turn is a scheduled job, but as
> the name implies, turns in Yakima after working
> industries there, and interchanging with the short
> line. The 'extra PYT' runs on Saturdays during
> daylight hours, departing Pasco in the morning.
> The regularly scheduled M-F PYT runs in darkness
> almost all the way.
>

Actually the regular PYT runs Sun-Thur nights and has Fri and Sat nights off.

It's pretty much in the third post of this thread.  Auburn to Pasco to Vancouver to Auburn.   At least, I think I think the triangle crews start in Auburn given that every train I see heading east from that lovely city seems to originate in the Auburn yard - maybe the come all the way from Tacoma or Seattle.   Others are no doubt smarter than me.

NPRocky Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hate to admit that I've never fully understood
> how that triangle pool worked, in other words,
> where the crews originated and where they wound up
> their three-day tour of duty. I'm sure there's a
> Trainorders member who knows. 

yorknl Wrote:
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> Auburn to Pasco to Vancouver to
> Auburn.   At least, I think I think the triangle
> crews start in Auburn given that every train I see
> heading east from that lovely city seems to
> originate in the Auburn yard - maybe the come all
> the way from Tacoma or Seattle.

The Triangle home terminal is Auburn.  The actual trains originate from various locations-for example, the empty grainers from the many Columbia River elevators, Tacoma, Seattle, etc.  Triangle conductors are first out at their away from home terminals.  Whereas Triangle engineers are "dovetailed" in with the regular pool engineers at those terminals.