Lander Street Separation Project

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Look for this SODO project in the future, sending vehicle traffic above the BNSF mainline instead of through it. Currently the project ranks #22 in the 69 prioritized projects ahead of the Seattle Dept of Transportation, so it's not high on the list. Reasons include a vast funding gap for the estimated $155 million project. But when completed, it will create more movement east to west through this heavily industrial part of the city.

Here's a 27MB Powerpoint download from the 5/12/2008 Seattle City Council meeting that outlines the projects:

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/docs/download/4-1-08%20Major%20Projects%20Funding%20FINAL%20projection.ppt

Kingdome - Then and Now

Today's Then and Now segment celebrates the mainline running past what used to be called The Concrete Cheeseburger - King County's own Kingdome Stadium. John C. Benson took the above "Then" photo in 1981 in a spot that is now occupied by an exit ramp from I-90. BN 98 (here's another picture from 1977) was an EMD SW1 built prior to 1950 for the Great Northern Railway, based on the shape of the cab. The final days of this unit are unclear, but SW1 switchers were operating on U.S. railroads well into the 1990s

The "Now" photo was taken as close to the original spot as I could get without leaving my truck (and two sons) in a dangerous spot at the off-ramp:

Qwest Field is built in the footprint of the Kingdome after it was imploded in 2000, a mere 24 years after it hosted the first Seahawks game (they lost). This is a very busy part of the BNSF mainline through Seattle; commuter trains, Amtrak, and freight all run the same tracks, with 50+ "movements" per day being common!

Roster Shot Shenanigans Part I

What do you do when a good shot is ruined by urban flair, like a power pole?

Well forget the Photo Of The Week award and do something with the snapshot anyway!

Photo editing courtesy of Tux Paint, which is an open-source kid-friendly art program. My son loves it, and I'll say that leaf stamp sure comes in handy here!

Workin' On The Railroad

Saturday December 8th - On a cold morning in SODO, a brakeman staffs the switch while a BNSF GP39M rumbles towards a side track to pick up some cars. Engine 2884 - built in 1965 as Great Northern GP35 #3040 - ran the entire length of track from Holgate down to Lander before grabbing what it needed.

In the meantime, it was good texting time for the Brakeman and his cell-phone.