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What do engineers do when they have to go to the bathroom when they are at the throttle of a train in motion? I know locomotives have toilets. Do they have the assistant take over? What about cabs where there is only one engineer on duty (such as on the Cascades--where there is only one engineer...

Beginning May 31 and going until August 1, Amtrak service will be disrupted through the Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. Basically there will be a one-week work window, take a week off, then go (work) for another week, and so on. During the work week windows: There will be no...

This is actually two questions: LAUPT is an extremely busy station with lots of train action. Is there any place a person can go to watch all this activity without going onto the platforms or going places the public should not go? Are there any over passes, pedestrian bridges/walkways that...

Here is an article in The Oregonian about Greyhound's cutting some of its routes and some of the smaller towns and communities it serves. While on the surface it may not seem to have anything to do with Amtrak, it may influence funding and politics as to which Amtrak routes and trains may...

Baby Bullet Trains a Hit Here is an article from SFGate.com about the new commuter train service between San Francisco and San Jose.

Yesterday, the monorail in Seattle caught fire (it looks like from a spark from the electrical wiring) with smoke filling the train. Pictures shown on TV were quite dramatic, as was the reporting. The fire happened just as the train left the Seattle Center Station and as it was coming out of the...

This is a question I have for someone who is in the know: In some publications, it is stated that the climb from about Oakridge, Oregon, through the Oregon Cascades (Willamette Pass) to Cascade Summit is the longest continous grade on the (then) Southern Pacific empire. What about the climb...

Lewis and Clark Explorer Train Once again, the RDC trains will be running between Linnton (near Portland) and Astoria, Oregon. Most of the route is along the scenic Columbia River. Regular passenger service has not been seen on this line since the 1950s. If you have the chance, take advantage of...

On Saturday, May 1, the new Interstate MAX line will officially open for business in Portland, Oregon. The line runs from the Coliseum and Rose Quarter all the way out to the Expo Center (about 5.8 miles). Unfortunately, it will stop there, as Vancouver/Clark County voted against light-rail in...

Here is an article from The Sunday Oregonian last Sunday about the rash of retirements of engineers and conductors and other trainmen. This has the result of UP trains not being staffed enough to keep them going, causing them to be stopped in their tracks while waiting for a new crew to take...

Has anyone noticed the new Amtrak 2004 calendar, featuring the winner of last year's photo contest? It features a photo of the Southwest Chief snaking through Apache Canyon in New Mexico. There are four "Genesis" locomotives pulling the train; that should be sufficient power. I have seen photos...

Amtrak's Coast Starlight struck and killed a man just north of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge along BNSF's route along the Puget Sound. It appears to be a suicide. The story appears on the Tacoma Trib's Web site:http:Amtrak Strikes Man I was taken aback yesterday as I talked to "Julie." She said the...

Steve's Photos. Here is my new Web site with at least 1000 photos. Not all of them are of trains; I do have plenty of other interests. But there are probably more train photos than of anything else. The site opens to a short slide show of some of my best pictures--3 or 4 of them are of...

A northbound UP freight train collided with a southbound BNSF train just south of Kelso, near I-5 and the Columbia River. The southbound train was crossing over from the east to the west track. The UP train could not stop in time and rammed the last few cars on the BN train. Both trains were...

Can anyone tell us how Amtrak and other trains are doing in light of the LA fires? I saw one TV picture in which a train was passing by and through one of the fire-proned areas. Have Amtrak schedules, runs been impacted? Any cancellations or bussings, etc.?

Anybody know where I can get a downloadable photo/drawing of the Coast Starlight's symbol/seal? The oval with the train on it. It is on the doors of the Pacific Parlour Car. I'd like to be able to lift just the symbol/seal. Any suggestions?

Washington Notebook: $17 million restoration on track for King Street Station Monday, August 18, 2003 MARGARET ELLIS, Columbian staff writer The King Street Station in Seattle, which sees Amtrak passengers into the city, is going to be remodeled to the tune of $17 million, according to the...

17-year-old killed in crash near Woodland Tuesday, September 9, 2003 By JOHN BRANTON, Columbian staff writer A 17-year-old boy was killed near Woodland on Monday when his speeding car snapped a power pole on Interstate 5, draping transmission lines across the three northbound lanes and a...

Anybody know about Arnold's views about Amtrak, Amtrak service in California, etc.? That is one of the issues he will have to deal with if he becomes governor. I would like to know his views? Anybody have any idea?

The other day, while watching a freight train, I heard a very loud screeching--like metal grinding on metal--and it was coming from a gondola car. If such a grinding continues much longer, it could wear away the axle, wheel, etc. and cause a derailment. Then, the day afterward, I hear about a...