Seattle Tours

Today noted a unit coal train waiting near Pier 86, pointing Canada-wards. I haven’t seen a coal train pass through Seattle in years. It turns out that BNSF is once again bringing Powder River basin coal to the Roberts Bank coal terminal in Vancouver, BC – the largest coal terminal on the west coast of north america. From there, the coal is shipped across the Pacific Ocean.

This train was the object of much excitement on local train fan websites, I later found out. It originates at the Spring Creek mine in Wyoming, then is routed through Sheridan WY, Sandpoint ID, Spokane, Pasco, Vancouver WA, Seattle and on to Vancouver BC.

Below:

(1) Looking south along tracks near Pier 86. From left, we see an empty BNSF garbage train, the aforementioned coal train, and, farther to the right, grain cars. Amgen pedestrian bridge in the background, and Pier 86 grain terminal farther back.
(2) North from Amgen pedestrian bridge. Coal train in middle-right of photo.
(3) Some crows also found the train interesting.