by CN9634
petahgriff8316 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:48 pm Currently sitting at Forest Avenue waiting for POWA to cross. I was really excited when I saw the gates down because I realized I was going to get my first POWA since moving to Portland. Then it freaking stopped in the middle of the intersection for five minutes and is now crawling 5 miles an hour. I know stuff happens but somebody goofed I’m guessing. I like trains but not enough to be waiting at a crossing while one is stopped in the middle of the road. Crazy thing was it wasn’t even that far into the train, four lead units and it was probably in the first 10 Eimskip containers that ended up blocking the road.I lived in Deering for many years a couple hundred feet from Lincoln st crossing, certainly that grade can be killer with a heavy train and ailing power. The Slurry tanks on PORU would usually make a big challenge for those guys if they had a good slug (plus coal) and any one of the GP40s was ailing. POWA is usually majority empties, so maybe they had a problem with the train. I’d recommend the Read St crossing if you are hanging, it’s off the busy Forest Ave and you can see the signal which is lit only when something is in the block. Park by the tracks right in the Shipyard parking lot no one will bother you.
Addendum: Maybe I am missing something/an entitled Millennial (apologies/guilty as charged) but I just couldn't work out what they were doing. Is this more common than I realize? I saw the block was green a few minutes before when I crossed and they definitely weren't down as far as Read St., let alone CPF 194, and IIRC Amtrak isn't running through this weekend.