Winter in Portland

Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 54

I spent this past winter in Portland, Oregon. Boredom got the better of me tonight so I thought I'd finally post some photos from my trip.

Portland's best-known railroad attraction is Union Station home to Amtrak's Empire Builder, Coast Startlight, and Cascades corridor. It is also soon to be host to Portland's MAX light rail network once a new north-south alignment opens later in 2009. There was a great article on the station in Trains magazine not too long ago.

Amtrak's southbound Coast Starlight departs the station on an abnormally sunny winter day. The condo developments around the station are definitely a recent phenomenon. Through the 1980s much of the land was occupied by railroad infrastructure.

The north end of the station is just as good for train-watching as a southbound Cascades with Talgo equipment approaches 9th Street and the north throat of the station. The Fremont Bridge is in the distance and carries I-405 over the Willamette River.

Freight trains can also be seen downtown as evidenced by this Union Pacific transfer run returning home to Albina Yard after making a run to BNSF's Lake Yard. Note the speed limit signs for Freight, Passenger, and Talgo.

A few blocks away in the Pearl District is the northern extremity of Portland's municipally-owned streetcar. A southbound car is passing Jameson Square with the Fremont Bridge looming in the distance.

Portland's light rail network, known as MAX, is operated by Tri-Met the regional transit authority. Here at Elmonica, near the west end of the system, a westbound train shows off its advertising wraps.

Also at Elmonica are the west end shops for MAX as viewed here from the eastbound platform. The eastern shops are located at Ruby Junction and were also the subject of a recent Trains magazine article.

In Beaverton the line's heritage shows. Built on the former Oregon Electric right-of-way later operated by Burlington Northern and Portland & Western freight operations were not entirely vacated before transit construction started. Here can be seen the remnant of a freight stub kept along the light rail to serve a now-closed GM plant.

At Beaverton Central a westbound MAX train crosses Hall Blvd. with two cars showing off MAX's paint schemes. The close car is a low-floor Type 2 while the far car is a rebuilt high-floor Type 1 sporting Tri-Met's newest colors.

Beaverton is home to a store of the Powell's chain that is known for its railroad section. This is one-fifth of the new and used books available on one of my many visits to the store.

Streetcar and MAX are not the only rail transit options available in the Portland metro area. Starting in February a new commuter service known as WES, for Westside Express Service, opened linking the western suburbs of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville. Colorado Railcar DMUs are operated over Portland & Western trains during rush hours on weekdays only. In spite of this the operation is generally well-received by patrons and local transit officials are already eying expansion options. Here a southbound train eases down Lombard Ave. in Beaverton on February 3, the second day of regular service.

WES trains are crewed by Portland & Western and wear a modified Tri-Met uniform. First time patrons were shocked to find a conductor on all runs; MAX and the streetcar operate on a proof-of-payment system with random checks by fare inspectors.

And so our tour ends with two WES trains meeting in Tigard in this view from Main Street. The gantlet track to the left is required for freight trains to clear the high level platforms; freight trains do not utilize the right track.