Trip on the wrong bus leads to discovery of Portland roundhouse and turntable

[Wulfblat]

The transit mall in downtown Portland is currently closed so new lines for lightrail can be laid, which has led to the relocation of virtually all bus routes and stops. Up until now I've had no difficulty using Trimet's web page to find the correct route and stop to get to where ever I'm going when I need to get there, but yesterday afternoon I stepped onto the wrong bus, and into the Twilight Zone.

Actually it was a little more mundane than that: I boarded the #17 and forgot to get off on SE 17th Ave for the transfer to  #70, and as a result I found myself traveling up Holgate, further and further away from where I needed to be. I hopped off the bus and made my way on foot back down Holgate to get to 17th, and crossed the overpass that takes traffic over the Brooklyn Yard. Late as I was, I couldn't help looking down into the yard as a hurried along, and then stopped dead in my tracks as I saw a turntable and round house right next to the road!

 

I had known that the Brooklyn Yard boasted a turntable and roundhouse, but I had no idea they were so close to the road and so visible: I must have driven over this part of Holgate hundreds of times and never noticed it. The yard is owned by Union Pacific, but was originally owned by the Great Northern (as evidenced by the locomotive in the photo) and later by the Southern Pacific. The City of Portland leases the 4 bay roundhouse and turntable to house 3 vintage steam locomotives, plus a variety of diesels and rolling stock.

 I drove over to the yard this morning with a camera and stood in the pouring rain to snap a few photos and watch the trains (this is a busy yard). I should have brought a pair of binoculars and a spotting scope as well -- I particularly wanted a better view of the old silver diesel next to the power poles in the distance.

 You can find additional full resolution photos at:

http://www.whiteweasel.net/leonard/rail/trips/brooklyn/index.html

How many different types of locomotives can you identify? 

[Anonymous]

Yup, that's where the SP 4449 "Daylight" and two companion locos are maintained and operated from. Good find!

-Chris (tm)

[ezielinski]

I see an RS-3, an F7A, a GP30, and possibly an FP45.

[adrianspeeder]

Silver guy looks like an Alco FA.

 

Adrianspeeder 

[CShaveRR]

Or a PA-2, in primer.  I know Mr. McCormack has one painted up in NKP colors, but I suspect that this is the other former NdeM hulk, and doesn't look like much from the sides.

[ezielinski]

I guess I didn't look behind the roundhouse.  That does look like an in-primer ALCo PA unit.