Everett, WA: BNSF Delta Yard and Delta & PA Junctions

Yard: (Satellite)

Delta Junction: (Satellite)

PA Junction: (Satellite, "Connecting the BNSF Scenic Subdivision to BNSF Bellingham Subdivision. Bellingham Subdivision starts here." [BNSF] (I was unable to find subdivision information on this operations map.))

See tunnel and bridge for more information about this area.

North is on the right side of these images.

Viral Media posted
1970 Delta Yard

The Rogers Main runs between Delta Junction and PA Junction in Everett on former Northern Pacific Roadbed. In 2015, BNSF completed a large project around the Everett area to expand Delta and Bayside Yards. The WSDOT High-Speed Rail Corridor project, realigned the Rogers Main to connect with the Bayside Line, to reduce conflict with through trains waiting for commuter windows and a slot through the Everett tunnel.

As a part of the 2015 project, Marsh Yard (between Delta Yard and the Rogers Main was built. This added 4 arrival/departure tracks. Nee Delta classification tracks 13-16, plus a small stub track 17 were also added. Double track were added from Bayside Yard around the north tip of Everett to Delta Junction.

A 1970 BN track chart shows the former Northern Pacific roadbed used for the modernization project.
[Credit: Robert Bender @railroad_journal.]

I accessed a topo map to determine if some tracks were removed to free up land for the warehouses that we see today on a satellite image. The Delta Yard is at the top and near the right of this excerpt. They did not remove a lot of tracks; instead, it is an industrial area that was repurposed. Delta Junction is at the Snohomish River Bridge. The PA Junction is at the bottom to the left of the "Sawmill" label. A connection has been added to the PA Junction.

The other reason I accessed a topo map was to determine if GN or NP built this yard. I'm guessing it was GN. I'm guessing because all of the references I found list just BN as the previous owner. Note that Milwaukee, GN and NP all shared the route south along the river. 

1956/57 Marysville Quad @ 24,000

In fact, they added some tracks for what appears to be a small intermodal yard. I said "appears" because I could find cuts of deep-well cars and stored containers, but I could not find any equipment to lift containers. This facility must be just storage because Evertt is not listed as an Intermodal Facility. [BNSF]

Satellite

It is worth noting that Milwaukee, NP and GN also shared the route to the east of Everett.

1956/57 Marysville Quad @ 24,000

Seattle, WA: BNSF and UP Seattle Harbor Railyards (Argo, Whatcom, Gateway)

(Satellite)

Viral Media posted two images with the comment:

Seattle Harbor Rail Network

Two Class 1 railroads serve the Puget Sound region: the BNSF Railway (formerly Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad) and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). The Port of Seattle is one of the nation’s largest container ports and a critical US international trade gateway. It’s the 4th largest distribution center network in the U.S. and one of fastest rail transport routes to Chicago of any West Coast port.

The UPRR mainline terminates at Argo Yard in the southeast portion of the Duwamish industrial area. The yard is made up of multiple storage and loading tracks. Trackage rights allow for UPRR operations over BNSF owned track connecting to the Port’s T5 and Terminal 18.

In the Seattle Industrial District, the north-south BNSF track connects to the north end of Argo Yard at the Coach wye5. The west leg of the wye skirts the north end of Argo Yard and turns north into the Seattle International Gateway (SIG) Intermodal Facility. The SIG has multiple storage and loading tracks that serve off-terminal containerized train traffic from the Port and other local customers.

Source: Seattle Department of Transportation study-funds application

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1949/69 Seattle South Quad @ 24,000

Spokane, WA: Lost/GN Hillyard & BNSF Yardley/NP Parkland Railyards & Roundhouses and Purina Feed Mill

GN Hillyard: (Satellite, just east of Market Street between south of Wellesley Ave. and Lincoln Road.)

GN Roundhouse: (Satellite, northeast quadrant of tracks and Wellesley Ave.)

GN Depot: (Satellite, based on the topo map below. BN's donation of the clock tower verified the location.)

BNSF Yardley/NP Parkland: (Satellite)

NP Roundhouse: (Satellite, part of the foundation is still visible.)

NP Backshop: (Satellite)

Feed Mill: (Satellite)

Leland Dean Fultz posted
This is an aerial photo taken by the military in 1931 of the Great Northern Railroad Hillyard Yard and Roundhouse. There is absolutely nothing left of the Yard and Roundhouse. Just North of Spokane, Washington

Two images were provided in the comments, but Leland Dean Fultz indicated that these two images are of the Northern Pacific Parkland Yard. Google Maps labels the yard as BNSF Yardley, so evidently the name of this yard was changed.

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Dennis DeBruler commented on Leland's post
The GN yard, 1950/55 Spokane Quad @ 62,500

Dennis DeBruler commented on Leland's post
The NP yard, 1950/55 Spokane Quad @ 62,500

Yardley not only still has its turntable, but it also appears it has some of its old backshop buildings.

Street View, Oct 2024

I normally don't bother with "sheet-metal" photos, but the grain elevator caught my eye.

Arctic Gaming, Mar 2023

While looking for the grain elevator, it is obvious that they also handle intermodal traffic here.

Street View, Oct 2024

<update>

William Brown posted two images with the comment: "From the G Quinn Collection, BNSF 4732 leads a Unit Grain Train through Spokane Yard.  The C44-9W was built in January 1998.  So the photo was taken after that date.  The Grain Train is made up of the pre C6XX Grain Fleet.  The track of Woodchip Cars Cars shows this to be before the transition of these cars into Cottonseed Service.  The Spline Cars show the reason for this Intermodal Hub.  The facility is one of the top 50 Mainline Blockers on all of BNSF.  It is a key contributor to BNSF's perfect Peak Season UPS Records.  If a UPS westbound load will not make the sort in Portland or Seattle.  It gets offloaded at Spokane and trucked.  No date or photographer noted."

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[Too bad it is unreadable.]

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</update>

GN Depot

Lilac City Wanderers of Spokane posted
Great Northern Train Depot Spokane Washington 1907

Jared Nelson: The clock tower was actually donated by Burlington North and built in 1902. There is a brass plack on it with the Burlington North symbol explaining this.

[Did the city have to buy the rest of the land that BN had on that island?]

Kyle James Jarvis commented on the above post
Here is a map from 1883, showing the four original channels. The dam in this image is a later generation of the dam circled in blue:

Fortunately, the cartographer labeled the GN and NP stations. 

1950/52 Spokane NE Quad @ 24,000

Feed Mill

Arctic Gaming must have posted his photo to the wrong location because the only silos I could find were the ones in the middle background of the above view. It is obviously a feed mill complete with a Purina feed truck.

Street View, Oct 2024

But it appears that a lot of the feed is packaged for shipment.

Street View, Oct 2024

They do have limited rail service. I presume that is for receiving some of the supplements. They even have their own "critter" to spot the hopper cars.

Satellite

Or is this mill big enough to ship feed by rail? It looks like the left track is for receiving and the right track is for shipping.

Steve Powell, Dec 2016

An older view shows that they can also ship a lot of feed in bulk trucks.

Street View, Oct 2013

Newton, IA: Rock Island and MSTL Depots

Rock Island: (Satellite)

MSTL: (Satellite)

MSTL = Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, later it was C&NW

Roger Kujawa posted three photos with the comment: "The Rock Island’s Newton, Iowa depot is now a private home.  The Iowa Interstate now run the line in front of the depot."

Chris Goepel: Interesting. Thought it was a museum, at least at one time. Newton was served by three railroads: CRI&P, M&StL, and N&NW [Newton & North Western]. I believe the depots from the latter two carriers may also still be in existence. It’s been a number of years since I’ve seen them myself.

Dustin Holschuh: The mstl depot is still there.   737 north 3rd Avenue

Roger Kujawa shared

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Dustin Hiolschuh commented on Roger's post

Street View

Watertown, TN: Tourist Railroad Turntable

(Satellite, they plan to install the turntable in 2025.)

This Tennessee Central route is now owned by Nashville & Eastern Railroad (NERR). [2004 SPV Map]

Nashville Steam posted four photos with the comment:

Yesterday, members of Nashville Steam and the Tennessee Central Railway Museum attended the official groundbreaking ceremony for the future Watertown Rail Yard & Turntable! This multi-year project will reinstall the former NC&StL turntable from the Tilford (Hills Park) Yard in Atlanta that will once again turn No. 576 on future excursions. New lead and display tracks will also be constructed. 

A hearty congratulations to the City of Watertown on this achievement! And a big thank you to R. J. Corman Railroad Group for their support with this project!

Kevin William Jones: They ought to go up to Cookeville and back again for there excursion that's good news what there doing I'm proud of them.

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Brochure via NashvilleSteam

Kevin's comment must be wishful thinking rather than the plan because that would be a long tourist railroad ride. But I'm guessing it would be scenic.

1956/71 Nashville and 1956/66 Corbin Quads @ 250,000

Onaway, MI: Wood Grain Elevator and Storage Boxcar

(Satellite)

Maxwell Crosby posted

“One last load”

Former Grand Trunk Western 50 foot boxcar 592517 sits on what’s left of the spur for an old elevator as it has for at least 4 or 5 decades in the small town of Onaway, Michigan.

In recent years some clearing has made this view possible, revealing the boxcar to the outside world once more. Behind the elevator is yet another car, but due to the rain and not being prepared for what else could be back there I did not wander out back to see what the identity of the car was. Sitting on plain bearing trucks the two cars were most likely purchased for storage by the elevator and left behind, even after the former Detroit and Mackinaw was removed through here.

Stephen Lane

Looks like an elevator with feed making capabilities. The cyclone is pretty low to be for the grain legs, so I’m assuming it was for a hammer mill.

Stephen Lane

Well things to know about ag businesses:

Elevator Companies: a business whose main purpose is to receive grain, store and dry. Limited processing is done. Mostly run by Co-Ops so Small farmers could have a shipping point and the railways had a sizeable customer to deal with.

Feed Mill: a company that may or may not receive and dry grain, but takes in for in house processing. Able to make several different grades and types of feed and sold generally in 25,50 and 100 lb sacks.

Grist/Flour Mills: a mill who has more refinement capabilities than a feed mill. Generally with use of fine grinding machines and packing. Food grade machinery in use.

Sometimes the smaller elevators became feed mills as the need for elevating and storage of grain became...less needed.

Troy Kleman

Stephen Lane I worked at an elevator that was also a feed mill. They are still one of the few such places that exist today. 4h livestock keeps them busy. Rail service is getting more and more rare as railroad up the car load requirement for service.

Maxwell Crosby shared

The Detroit and Mackinaw never got absorbed by the Michigan Central. It is still labeled Detroit and Mackinac on a 1955/64 Chbeoygan @ 250,000 topo map. And the only label shows by the 2004 SPV Map is DM. Normally, that map labels who built the route and who abandoned it. Interestingly, the 1928 RR Atlas, which is my naming standard, doesn't even show it even though there is room on the map. Thus, the label "rrOther" for these notes.

Goreville, IL: Lost/C&EI Depot

(Satellite)

Stephen N. Brannon posted
C&EI Depot at Goreville between Neilson Tower to the north and West Vienna Tower to the south. Situated at the top of somewhat steep grade. CB&Q had trackage rights between Neilson and West Vienna and the two roads exchanged coal hoppers at Goreville - CB&Q loads headed to the EEI steam power plant at Joppa served by the C&EI, and C&EI loads destined for the TVA Shawnee steam power plant served by the CB&Q. Both power plants were on the Ohio River - EEI on the Illinois side and TVA on the Kentucky side accessed via the P&I Bridge over the Ohio at Metropolis. CB&Q helper engines were sometimes stationed at Neilson Tower to assist loaded coal trains up the hill to Goreville.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Stephen's post
I think this big concrete slab used to be the foundation of the depot. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VpkGhQh3USy6yKYT6

1966/67 Goreville Quad @ 24,000

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP