Passenger Trains > The Lilac City's Daytime Visitor

Train 27, the Portland-bound Empire Builder, crosses the 90 freeway in Spokane, traveling on the Pasco leg of the 50-year-old Latah Creek bridge on Sunday afternoon.

The train was running just shy of 12 hours late, affording passengers a rare, daylight look at the Lilac City.

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Great shot!!! Your photograph here succinctly tells the story of a modern American city.

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

The comment "50 year old Latah Creek Bridge" really made me stop and think.

The Latah Creek Bridge was in many ways the symbol of the new Burlington Northern railroad in the 1970's, consolidating what was three railroads (four if you count UP trackage rights) into one mighty mainline.  BSB

Now if we could only get a day train on about this schedule between Spokane and Seattle!  Unfortunately, the Washington state Department of Transportation has made it clear it has absolutely no interest in that, partly because of the cost of upgrading the former NP Stampede Pass line for passenger service (adding signals back and also probably PTC).  It's doubtful at best that the BNSF would allow an additional passenger train over Stevens Pass.

BigSkyBlue Wrote:
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> The comment "50 year old Latah Creek Bridge"
> really made me stop and think.
>
> The Latah Creek Bridge was in many ways the symbol
> of the new Burlington Northern railroad in the
> 1970's, consolidating what was three railroads
> (four if you count UP trackage rights) into one
> mighty mainline.  BSB

50 Years Old!!?

Why, that's the "new" bridge!

Stan Praisewater

In the back of my head I knew the new bridge was 50-years-old, but it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago when I was driving under the bridge and saw "1972" etched into one of the concrete pillars that it hit me — that was 50 years ago!
 

NPRocky Wrote:
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> Now if we could only get a day train on about this
> schedule between Spokane and Seattle! 
> Unfortunately, the Washington state Department of
> Transportation has made it clear it has absolutely
> no interest in that, partly because of the cost of
> upgrading the former NP Stampede Pass line for
> passenger service (adding signals back and also
> probably PTC).  It's doubtful at best that the
> BNSF would allow an additional passenger train
> over Stevens Pass.
Would be great!

Posted from Android

Wow, I was there (in Spokane) when it opened, it was a big deal. Now I feel old!

Beautiful photo!

Posted from iPhone