My Trip to Vancouver BC 07-06-2007

[FNS]

Greetings, folks!

I took a day trip to Vancouver, BC, this last Friday. Finally had a chance in riding Superliners on this run. Very good trip!


COAST STARLIGHT AT KING STREET STATION SEATTLE.


MY TRAIN PULLED BY GE P42 184.


DOWNTOWN SEATTLE FROM MY SEAT.


BIG CRUISE SHIP ON THE WATERFRONT.


THE EDGEWATER, WHERE THE BEATLES AND MONKEES STAYED IN THE 1960S.


A GRAIN SHIP AT PIER 86 WITH NEW BNSF GRAIN CARS ON THE TRACKS.


THE LOCKS IN BALLARD.


MV PUYALLUP AT EDMONDS.


THAT UNKNOWN DERELICT BETWEEN EDMONDS AND MUKILTEO.


AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AT NAVAL STATION EVERETT.


EVERETT STATION.


LOOKING BACK. CAN'T DO THIS ON A TALGO.


MOUNT VERNON STATION.


FARM LANDS AND THE SAN JUANS.


MV COLUMBIA IN BELLINGHAM.


PASSING THE PEACE ARCH. CANADIAN CUSTOMS IS CLEARED BY TRAIN PASSENGERS UPON ARRIVAL AT PACIFIC CENTRAL STATION, VANCOUVER.


ALEX FRASER BRIDGE.


SKYTRAIN AND PATULLO BRIDGES.


CROSSING THE FRASER RIVER. AMAZING WORK OF STEEL AND WOOD!!


NEAT VARIATIONS OF BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. SKYTRAIN CROSSING HERS!


A VERY LARGE CRUISE SHIP AT CANADA PLACE. ABOARD THE 30 YEAR VETERAN SEABUS.


GROUSE MOUNTAIN, HERE I COME!


VANCOUVER.


WAITING AT THE FOOT OF A MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAIN.


ON THE CLIMB UP GROUSE MOUNTAIN. GOTTA LOVE THOSE LIONS!


VANCOUVER AND SURROUNDINGS. GROUSE HAS TWO SETS OF GONDOLAS. THIS LINE IS FOR FREIGHT.


LOOKING ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE WE SEE THE PUBLIC LINE AND THE MAGNIFICENT LIONS.


TIME TO COME DOWN AGAIN. INCREDIBLE SIGHT!!!


STERNWHEELER TOUR VESSEL PASSES IN FRONT OF SEABUS NORTH VANCOUVER TERMINAL.


BACK ABOARD MY SUPERLINER. LEAVING VANCOUVER. NEAT F7 AND DOME CAR OF VIA!


SO LONG, VANCOUVER! SEE YOU AGAIN, SOON.


ONE OF A COUPLE OF MAJOR TRESTLES ON THE WAY. THIS IS NEXT TO A MARINA.


FINAL PICTURE FOR THIS TRIP. BEAUTIFUL ORCAS ISLAND. TIME TO THINK ABOUT GOING TO A FAMILY CAMP AT ORKILA IN SEPTEMBER. WE ARE COMING UP TO WHITE ROCK AND US CUSTOMS (US CUSTOMS AGENTS CAME ABOARD AND COLLECT OUR FORMS, US IMMIGRATION PRECLEARANCE IS DONE AT PACIFIC CENTRAL STATION). AFTER DINNER, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO ENJOY THE SUNSET AND EVENING RAILCRUISE ALONG PUGET SOUND.

There is simply no better way to get to Vancouver than aboard a Superliner trainset. You get roomy seats and a nice recline, a foot rest, a leg rest, no forced movie watching like you get on Talgos, high and good visibility of scenery, and a good smooth ride. Going to hate seeing this end in 2008 when the Talgos return (hopefully not!). Will take this as many times as I can before then. Next trip, though, another Superliner trip to Montana is in the works using Sleepers aboard the Empire Builder! ;D

[Retrovision]

Words can't describe, but spectacular will suffice for now. Don't you just love a moving platform for taking scenic photographs from? And you've done such a platform justice and then some, especially for timing; great photos!

When the Superliners were on the run during the Royal Hudson excursion lately, I thought for sure that it was only a short regularly scheduled maintenance period, but 2008?! And you aren't joking; this is an chance that any true passenger rail fan would jump at, and now with this revalation I plan to make atleast one trip south on a relatively rare Superliner trainset on the run. Thank you! One question, though: are all the Talgo trainsets out of service, including on trains south of Seattle? If so, I'm now hoping to integrate this, and possibly the Coast Starlight service depending on timing, on a trip to Oregon as well.

Thanks again, ferrynutseattle. Keep up these kind of enticing contributions, please.

Graham

[Scott]

Interesting view of the city from a perspective I've never seen before. Thanks for the pics!

[BreannaF]

Ferrynut: Thank you for taking and posting pictures along the way on your trip. There's some really nice shots in there! It's great to see these places from a perspective that few get to see on a regular basis.

tsawwassenterminal said:

One question, though: are all the Talgo trainsets out of service, including on trains south of Seattle? If so, I'm now hoping to integrate this, and possibly the Coast Starlight service depending on timing, on a trip to Oregon as well.

I have seen the Talgo's coming in and out of Portland as usual, as recently as this week. So I think the service isn't affected in this direction. An Amtrak announcement can be found here: www.amtrakcascades.com/TrackWork.aspx

[FNS]

Thank you for your kind words. This was truly a great trip.

I was debating inside myself which track this train would take after Everett. The track to Stevens Pass, or the track to Vancouver. I am so used to riding Superliners to the east and back on the Empire Builder. Sure enough, we took the track to Vancouver! It was a new experience for me in riding familiar equipment, I'm so accustomed to riding on the Empire Builder, to a different destination.

It took me only about an hour and a half to get to the top of Grouse Mountain from Pacific Central Station using Skytrain, Seabus, North Vancouver Transit Route 236, and the gondola. Very seamless means to say the least! Bought a daypass for trouble free transit riding.

I close this message and post pictures of two of my favorite sights on the Empire Builder (taken previously):


EASTBOUND ON THE EMPIRE BUILDER. MORNING TRANSIT OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AT SUMMIT WITH THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.


WESTBOUND ON THE EMPIRE BUILDER. MORNING SUNSHINE ON MOUNT INDEX, MY FAVORITE MOUNTAIN HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. IT TAKES MY BREATH AWAY EACH TIME I SEE THIS MOUNTAIN! JUST LIKE WHEN I HEAR THE ROARING LAST PAGE OF LISZT'S MONUMENTAL ORGAN WORK "AD NOS AD SALUTAREM UNDAM". TO THE RIGHT OF HER IS MOUNT PERSIS.

THESE ARE SEEN FROM ABOARD SUPERLINERS.

[JW McClure]

Have CD of somewhat famous song (performed by 3 Damp Duck) from 1981 following the crash of the Dreadful Issaquah, flattening the Fauntleroy Dock. You should have this if you are a ferry nut. No cost. My treat. [e-mail]

[FNS]

I remember that dockslamming very well. This was the ISSAQUAH's First Birthday (she was launched on December 29, 1979). The whole Vashon and Southworth traffic were rerouted to Downtown Seattle, creating a massive circus of a traffic mess with cars crushing into Colman Dock going every direction! I guess that it is not wise to put a ferry of new technology (to WSF) on a run on her Birthday. Some Birthday Bash that was!!!!! ;D

[jwmcclure]

I should have added that I have looked for mention of the specific date of this Fauntleroy accident. either too long ago or well hidden, so your detail was refreshing. Thanks.

[FNS]

JW said:

Have CD of somewhat famous song (performed by 3 Damp Duck) from 1981 following the crash of the Dreadful Issaquah, flattening the Fauntleroy Dock. You should have this if you are a ferry nut. No cost. My treat. [e-mail]

JW, please check your PM Inbox. I have a message for you regarding the above posting on this thread.