PDX Railfan
@pdxrailfan.bsky.social
Railfanning the western US, particularly the PNW! 📸 Canon EOS Rebel T7
Spent the day in Hood River, OR, yesterday! Caught the Mount Hood Railroad doing its thing, The Dalles Local picking up lumber loads, and trains flanked by the autumn leaves!
October 26, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Spent the day in Hood River, OR, yesterday! Caught the Mount Hood Railroad doing its thing, The Dalles Local picking up lumber loads, and trains flanked by the autumn leaves!
SDRX 910 brings up the rear of this northbound Sounder commuter train on the edge of Puyallup, WA.
August 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM
SDRX 910 brings up the rear of this northbound Sounder commuter train on the edge of Puyallup, WA.
Spent some time at Troutdale today! Found a nice little corner where I could set up shop and watch the trains go by, and caught a Canadian Pacific heritage unit rolling through town on the day’s grain shuttle!
August 2, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Spent some time at Troutdale today! Found a nice little corner where I could set up shop and watch the trains go by, and caught a Canadian Pacific heritage unit rolling through town on the day’s grain shuttle!
BNSF 3908 is on the point of this 3x1 C-BTMBRA, hauling export coal from Wyoming’s Black Thunder Mine to Roberts Bank, BC. 7/17/25
July 26, 2025 at 6:04 AM
BNSF 3908 is on the point of this 3x1 C-BTMBRA, hauling export coal from Wyoming’s Black Thunder Mine to Roberts Bank, BC. 7/17/25
A wave hello from the engineer up front as SC-44 WDTX 1400 leads Cascades Train 506 to Seattle. This Talgo set, the Mt. Jefferson, hit a fallen tree late last year that damaged the cab car. It was recently given a shiny new cab, a welcome relief since the Horizon cars were pulled from service.
July 4, 2025 at 10:39 PM
A wave hello from the engineer up front as SC-44 WDTX 1400 leads Cascades Train 506 to Seattle. This Talgo set, the Mt. Jefferson, hit a fallen tree late last year that damaged the cab car. It was recently given a shiny new cab, a welcome relief since the Horizon cars were pulled from service.
UP 7930 pulls a manifest by the signals at Mosier siding. These searchlight signals are a rare sight nowadays and what few remain are disappearing fast, replaced with easier to maintain traffic light-style signals. This one’s days are numbered; a new signal mast is on the ground awaiting install.
March 23, 2025 at 6:36 AM
UP 7930 pulls a manifest by the signals at Mosier siding. These searchlight signals are a rare sight nowadays and what few remain are disappearing fast, replaced with easier to maintain traffic light-style signals. This one’s days are numbered; a new signal mast is on the ground awaiting install.
With all eastbound traffic solidly in double track territory, Dispatcher 1 back in Omaha was finally able to get westbound traffic rolling. I was just slightly too slow to catch the first westbound, but was in position for UP 8138 to come racing through The Dalles. This was my last catch of the day.
March 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
With all eastbound traffic solidly in double track territory, Dispatcher 1 back in Omaha was finally able to get westbound traffic rolling. I was just slightly too slow to catch the first westbound, but was in position for UP 8138 to come racing through The Dalles. This was my last catch of the day.
The third and final eastbound train was a 2x1 manifest, with UP 7679 on the point.
March 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The third and final eastbound train was a 2x1 manifest, with UP 7679 on the point.
Next up, hot on the heels of the Seattle-Gilliam County trash train came UP 5969, pulling a 4x0 manifest originating from Roseville, CA.
March 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Next up, hot on the heels of the Seattle-Gilliam County trash train came UP 5969, pulling a 4x0 manifest originating from Roseville, CA.
A maintenance window to my west meant trains were stacking up all morning. UP Dispatcher 1 told crews he’d clear three eastbounds and then open it up for westbound traffic. My first catch was an eastbound Waste Management train heading for the Gilliam County landfill.
March 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A maintenance window to my west meant trains were stacking up all morning. UP Dispatcher 1 told crews he’d clear three eastbounds and then open it up for westbound traffic. My first catch was an eastbound Waste Management train heading for the Gilliam County landfill.
Went further into the Columbia River Gorge today and was surprised by how close by a lot of really good spots were! Made it out to The Dalles and then just a little farther east I ran into the Oregon Trunk sub (BNSF’s line to Bend) and then this bridge over Lake Umatilla
March 4, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Went further into the Columbia River Gorge today and was surprised by how close by a lot of really good spots were! Made it out to The Dalles and then just a little farther east I ran into the Oregon Trunk sub (BNSF’s line to Bend) and then this bridge over Lake Umatilla
There and back again
.
UP 5608 led a 4-motor light power move across Portland’s Steel Bridge. A few minutes later, the signal lit up again and 5608 went back the way it came, in the rear instead of the front.
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UP 5608 led a 4-motor light power move across Portland’s Steel Bridge. A few minutes later, the signal lit up again and 5608 went back the way it came, in the rear instead of the front.
February 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
There and back again
.
UP 5608 led a 4-motor light power move across Portland’s Steel Bridge. A few minutes later, the signal lit up again and 5608 went back the way it came, in the rear instead of the front.
.
UP 5608 led a 4-motor light power move across Portland’s Steel Bridge. A few minutes later, the signal lit up again and 5608 went back the way it came, in the rear instead of the front.
A northbound Union Pacific local approaches grade crossings at Hubbard, OR, milepost 739 on the Brooklyn subdivision.
December 21, 2024 at 5:41 PM
A northbound Union Pacific local approaches grade crossings at Hubbard, OR, milepost 739 on the Brooklyn subdivision.
UP 7356 leads a manifest train through North Portland’s Kenton Line. Mount Hood can be seen in the background.
December 21, 2024 at 2:47 AM
UP 7356 leads a manifest train through North Portland’s Kenton Line. Mount Hood can be seen in the background.
Through the mist and clouds of the Columbia River Gorge, a Union Pacific Z train emerges. Flanked by fall colors, this high-priority passes by the tri-light signal and the rock slide fence at MP 28.8 as it races to Hinkle for a crew change. 11/5/24
November 18, 2024 at 2:47 AM
Through the mist and clouds of the Columbia River Gorge, a Union Pacific Z train emerges. Flanked by fall colors, this high-priority passes by the tri-light signal and the rock slide fence at MP 28.8 as it races to Hinkle for a crew change. 11/5/24
Dusk sets in as the 4-car Empire Builder Train 28, led by a Siemens Charger in Phase VI scheme, races east through Washougal, WA.
November 13, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Dusk sets in as the 4-car Empire Builder Train 28, led by a Siemens Charger in Phase VI scheme, races east through Washougal, WA.
The tri-light signals are lit up as UP 5910 leads a manifest train west at MP 28.8 on the Portland subdivision. The red flag indicates a track gang is working in the area and approaching trains must contact the foreman to get permission through the limits.
November 12, 2024 at 1:19 AM
The tri-light signals are lit up as UP 5910 leads a manifest train west at MP 28.8 on the Portland subdivision. The red flag indicates a track gang is working in the area and approaching trains must contact the foreman to get permission through the limits.
AMTK 160, the 50th anniversary P42 affectionately dubbed the “Pepsi can,” leads the 4-car Empire Builder No. 28 across the Columbia River Bridge in Vancouver, WA. A break in the clouds adds a little bit of sunshine to the Oregon side’s greenery and to this beautiful heritage unit.
November 3, 2024 at 1:25 AM
AMTK 160, the 50th anniversary P42 affectionately dubbed the “Pepsi can,” leads the 4-car Empire Builder No. 28 across the Columbia River Bridge in Vancouver, WA. A break in the clouds adds a little bit of sunshine to the Oregon side’s greenery and to this beautiful heritage unit.
A snowy and cloud-wrapped Mount Hood rises above BNSF 3828 as it leads a string of tank cars from the oil fields of the Midwest to the refineries of the Northwest. 10/30/24
October 31, 2024 at 8:02 PM
A snowy and cloud-wrapped Mount Hood rises above BNSF 3828 as it leads a string of tank cars from the oil fields of the Midwest to the refineries of the Northwest. 10/30/24
#ThrowbackThursday (a day late)
“Pepsi can” AMTK 160, Amtrak’s 50th anniversary heritage unit wearing Dash 9 livery, leads an inbound Coast Starlight Train 11 across the Steel Bridge. 1/30/24 📸 iPhone 14 Pro
“Pepsi can” AMTK 160, Amtrak’s 50th anniversary heritage unit wearing Dash 9 livery, leads an inbound Coast Starlight Train 11 across the Steel Bridge. 1/30/24 📸 iPhone 14 Pro
October 25, 2024 at 11:46 AM
#ThrowbackThursday (a day late)
“Pepsi can” AMTK 160, Amtrak’s 50th anniversary heritage unit wearing Dash 9 livery, leads an inbound Coast Starlight Train 11 across the Steel Bridge. 1/30/24 📸 iPhone 14 Pro
“Pepsi can” AMTK 160, Amtrak’s 50th anniversary heritage unit wearing Dash 9 livery, leads an inbound Coast Starlight Train 11 across the Steel Bridge. 1/30/24 📸 iPhone 14 Pro
On the outskirts of Cascade Locks, rebuilt Canadian Pacific SD70ACu no. 7053 leads a grain train under the overcast and rainy autumn skies and through the greenery of the Columbia River Gorge on UP’s Portland subdivision.
October 23, 2024 at 4:51 AM
On the outskirts of Cascade Locks, rebuilt Canadian Pacific SD70ACu no. 7053 leads a grain train under the overcast and rainy autumn skies and through the greenery of the Columbia River Gorge on UP’s Portland subdivision.
Railfanning the UP today! Can anyone guess where these were taken?
October 22, 2024 at 1:21 AM
Railfanning the UP today! Can anyone guess where these were taken?
Talgo Series VIII “Mt. Jefferson” is today’s Amtrak 507 southbound from Seattle to Portland then Eugene, OR. The train races past at top speed through Vader, WA, flanked by autumn leaves. 10/14/24
October 17, 2024 at 2:43 PM
Talgo Series VIII “Mt. Jefferson” is today’s Amtrak 507 southbound from Seattle to Portland then Eugene, OR. The train races past at top speed through Vader, WA, flanked by autumn leaves. 10/14/24
A pedestrian waits patiently as a Union Pacific intermodal train ("stack train") makes its way off the Steel Bridge. Union Station's clock tower rises above as these double-stacked port containers slowly make their way through West Portland.
October 15, 2024 at 6:30 AM
A pedestrian waits patiently as a Union Pacific intermodal train ("stack train") makes its way off the Steel Bridge. Union Station's clock tower rises above as these double-stacked port containers slowly make their way through West Portland.