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Tacoma Railfan
- Discussion related to railroading activities past and present in the American Pacific Northwest (including Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia).
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I was in Tacoma briefly once and just around the old depot one can see the BNSF yard, Tacoma Light Rail, Amtrak and BNSF mainline action along with the commuter trains storage from Seattle. Elsewhere there is a few grain switchers and the Tacoma Rail.
The former Union Station, now a courthouse, is a beautiful building and one can explore the lobby, which was originally the waiting room. The Amtrak station is an Amshack but you can see a lot of the BNSF yard from the platform, though IIRC you may need to buy a ticket to access it.
Tacoma Rail switches the port and has periodic open days. They also run up the former Milwaukee Road grade near the Tacoma Dome that tops 3% and can be photographed from the 34th Street Bridge, though operations are sporadic. A block south of the Amtrak station is an S-shaped trestle that is a common photo spot as viewed from the L Street overpass.
Sounder trains lay over in Lakewood, and the unique drawbridge over Chambers Bay a few miles south is another popular photo spot.
Tacoma also has a streetcar.
Tacoma Rail switches the port and has periodic open days. They also run up the former Milwaukee Road grade near the Tacoma Dome that tops 3% and can be photographed from the 34th Street Bridge, though operations are sporadic. A block south of the Amtrak station is an S-shaped trestle that is a common photo spot as viewed from the L Street overpass.
Sounder trains lay over in Lakewood, and the unique drawbridge over Chambers Bay a few miles south is another popular photo spot.
Tacoma also has a streetcar.