Passenger Trains > Vancouver Skytrain Pictures Plus Seattle Bonuses

On 2/19/23, my friend and I had a full day in Vancouver, BC after getting off of VIA Rail Canadian Train # 1. We decided to ride the entire Skytrain system. I actually rode all of it in August of 2015 but because the Expo Line was extended to Lafarge Lake-Douglass Station in Coquitlam, I had to requality for riding the entire system. This is the very first time that my friend rode many of the routes. After leaving the Pacific Central Terminal, we walked to the Main Street-Science World Station.

1. A train of the older Mark Series Cars arrives at Main Street-Science World Station heading to the Waterfront Station,

2. Another older series Mark Set slows for Main Street-Science World Station-bound for Waterfront.

3. A set of Mark III Cars slows for Main Street-Science World Station.

 

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4. A second generation series of Mark II Cars is about to head away from Main Street-Science World Station

5. 2nd Generation series of Mark II Cars at Main Street-Science World Station

6. A eastbound Skytrain arrives into Main Street-Science World Station heading to King George.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/23 18:33 by Passfanatic.

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7 and 8. King George Station in Surrey with a 2nd Generation series of Mark II cars

9. Departing King George Station

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10-12. All three of these pictures were taken out of the front window of the Skytrain in Surrey heading from King George.

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Is that a linear induction motor, and has it passed the test of time?

13-14. Both crossing over the Fraser River

15. About to go in a short tunnel to serve Columbia Station



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 16:58 by Passfanatic.

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16. An Mark III set arrives into Columbia Station

17. A first generation Mark II two car set rests between runs at Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station-looking north

18. View from Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station-looking south



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 17:03 by Passfanatic.

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19. Passing through Coquitlam after departing Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station

20, Meeting with another Mark II set in Coquitlam

21. Arriving into Coquitlam Central Station



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 17:04 by Passfanatic.

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22. Passing a Skytrain yard

23-24. Expo Line



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 17:07 by Passfanatic.

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25-27. 1st Generation series of Mark II cars at VCC-Clark Station in Vancouver, BC



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 17:13 by Passfanatic.

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28. A two car set of Skytrain Hyundai Rotem cars on the Canada Line enter Broadway-City Hall Station heading to Richmond-Brighouse Station

29. Canada Line Skytrain at Richmond-Brighouse Station in Richmond, BC-view is looking north

30. Looking south from Richmond-Brighouse Station. There are so many apartments and retail units here within easy reach of the Skytrain Station.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 17:19 by Passfanatic.

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Mpre great work on your part!  Thanks!

31. A two car Canada Line Skytrain arrives into Bridgeport Station heading to Vancouver Int'l Airport Terminal-view is looking north

32. Looking south from Bridgeport Station

33. Arriving into YVR-Airport Station

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34. View out of the rear of the Airport route-crossing a bridge between Templeton and Bridgeport Station

35. Hyundai Rotem Set at Waterfront Station on the Canada Line

36. Older Mark III cars arriving into Waterfront Station on the Expo Line.

After our Skytrain adventure, my friend and I took a ride on the Seabus and then went back to Pacific Central Terminal. We took Cantrail bus from Vancouver, BC to Seattle WA because we had to get to our hotel adjacent to Seatac at a reasonable hour so my friend could get his sleep before flying back the next day. We would have taken Amtrak's Cascades otherwise. We both have done the entire Cascades route before.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 18:17 by Passfanatic.

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Great coverage and photos.  I've been curious about Skytrain operations since I saw them pass in the distance when visiting Vancouver in 1999.  Hard to believe it's an all-automated network.

Rich

My last full day of the trip, 2/20/23, was spent in the Seattle area. I railfanned at both the Kent and Auburn Sounder commuter rail stations, located on the BNSF Seattle Sub. I was able to catch a couple of Amtraks, Sounder, and BNSF Freights.

37. Southbound Amtrak Coast Starlight Train # 11 interrupts the silence in the Seattle suburb of Kent, WA with an interesting lashup of power-P42 # 163(Phase V colors), P42 # 160(Pepsi colors), and ALC-42. The train just passed the Kent Sounder Station, located in the background with the pedestrian bridge. The former Northern Pacific Kent Station is seen on the right. Soon, the P42s will be replaced by ALC-42 units on long distance trains.

38. A side rear view of the 160 in the Pepsi colors

39. Amtrak Train # 11 heading away from me toward its next stop at Tacoma Station. Amtrak is looking into replacement cars for the long distance network.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 18:22 by Passfanatic.

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40. Northbound Sounder train # 1518 approaches Kent Station with one of the brand new cab cars leading

41. Sounder Train #1518 is about to depart Kent Station for Seattle's King Street Terminal

42. Sounder F59PHI # 903 pushes Train # 1518 out of Kent Station toward its next stop of Tukwila.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 18:32 by Passfanatic.

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43. Looking south from Kent Sounder Station

44. Northbound Amtrak Cascades Train # 500, with Charger # 1406 in the lead, zips past Kent Station with a Talgo Set.

45. One of the Talgo Cab Cars brings up the rear of Amtrak Train # 500.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 18:32 by Passfanatic.

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46. Auburn Sounder Station-looking north

47. Auburn Sounder Station-looking south

48. BNSF Freight passing Auburn Station heading south



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 18:35 by Passfanatic.

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49. Amtrak P42 # 148 leads Amtrak Cascades Train # 505 through Kent, WA with a Talgo Set. Since the SC-44 units entered revenue service on the Cascades, seeing a P42 on that train isn't super frequent. In 2026, the Talgos will be replaced with the Siemens Venture Airo trainsets.

50. Former Northern Pacific Kent Station

51. Amtrak Cascades Train # 504 is about to pass through Downtown Kent. An SC-44 is leading a short horizon set with an F40 cabbage car on the rear



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/23 18:40 by Passfanatic.

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