Amtrak trains meet, Puyallup, WA, April 25, 1981
This day, trains 796 and 11 are dead on time, and meeting as they should just south of Puyallup, Washington on Burlington Northern's double-track mainline between Seattle and Portland. This photo describes well the state of railroading on BN and Amtrak in 1981. The mainlines are mostly still stick rail; surfacing is iffy. Blackberry vines are growing right up to tie ends. At the time, this portion of railroad hosted three round-trip trains between Seattle and Portland an a north and southbound train for California.On the left is one of the short-haul train, this day four new Superliner coaches behind an F40ph. On the right is the "Coast Starlight," train #11, with a pair of F40's leading an ex-Santa Fe baggage car, ex-Santa Fe "El Capitan" Coach/Dorm car, and new Superliners. At the time, this was the newest equipment on Amtrak, the national passenger carrier a few days away from its 10th birthday. One could scarcely recognize this railroad and the passenger service here today: Using Washington State Department of Transportation money, this railroad has been rebuilt into a CTC mainline with 3 and 4 main tracks in places, and a total of 5 Amtrak and thirteen Sounder commuter trains use these rails daily--in addition to a busy freight operation. I never would have believed it would ever happen!
Amtrak trains meet, Puyallup, WA, April 25, 1981
This day, trains 796 and 11 are dead on time, and meeting as they should just south of Puyallup, Washington on Burlington Northern's double-track mainline between Seattle and Portland. This photo describes well the state of railroading on BN and Amtrak in 1981. The mainlines are mostly still stick rail; surfacing is iffy. Blackberry vines are growing right up to tie ends. At the time, this portion of railroad hosted three round-trip trains between Seattle and Portland an a north and southbound train for California.On the left is one of the short-haul train, this day four new Superliner coaches behind an F40ph. On the right is the "Coast Starlight," train #11, with a pair of F40's leading an ex-Santa Fe baggage car, ex-Santa Fe "El Capitan" Coach/Dorm car, and new Superliners. At the time, this was the newest equipment on Amtrak, the national passenger carrier a few days away from its 10th birthday. One could scarcely recognize this railroad and the passenger service here today: Using Washington State Department of Transportation money, this railroad has been rebuilt into a CTC mainline with 3 and 4 main tracks in places, and a total of 5 Amtrak and thirteen Sounder commuter trains use these rails daily--in addition to a busy freight operation. I never would have believed it would ever happen!