Thu, 11:36: #BirthWeek train #9! Amtrak Cascades. Car length ~85’, four passenger cars with an engine on each end, totaling six cars, total train length ~510’.
The somewhat complicated history of this northwest corridor route of separate service south from Seattle to Portland and north from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. dates back to 1971 and 1972, respectively (https://bit.ly/3FhjB80). Completion of the corridor route south to its current terminus in Eugene, OR occurred briefly in 1980 and then permanently in the nineties. The need to transfer in Seattle going in either direction was not eliminated until 2009, but service north of Seattle was suspended in 2020 due to covid border closures, with service set to resume this year, as soon as staff shortage issues are resolved.
Today I’m taking a day trip on the train to Portland with my favorite person (me)! https://t.co/mAAZ6QTeQs
Thu, 13:46: #BirthWeek train #10! MAX Light Rail in Portland, because why not? Another train to ride!
In service since 1986, currently 5 lines serving 94 stations on 60 miles of track, this city was *way* ahead of Seattle when it came to mass transit. (Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail, while undergoing significant expansion currently, still today has only two light rail lines, serving 25 stations on 27 miles of track, 2 of those miles and 6 of those stations being a separate, self-contained line in Tacoma, which opened in 2003; the Seattle-SeaTac line opened in 2009.)
I must say, though, Portland’s MAX light rail seems far more worn and, let’s say, “lived in,” still using clearly old light rail cars. Still far more conveniently extensive in scope. What Link Light Rail has over it is much better stations, every one of them with very cool public art.https://t.co/65Irr0wgFg
Thu, 16:34: I am delighted to report that when I visited this Catholic shrine and garden sanctuary, I did *not* burst into flames! https://t.co/srnOCd3h38
Thu, 20:40: Pro tip to the people *still* making bad faith “my body my choice” comparisons between pregnancy and mask/vaccine mandates: pregnancy is neither contagious nor potentially lethal to people who just happen to be around you.
So, you know, maybe shut the fuck up with that shit. Forcing women to give birth to unwanted babies none of you have any interest in offering any assistance to once they’re actually born is an entirely separate issue.
Thu, 06:07: #BirthWeek train #11! Amtrak Coast Starlight, which I booked for my return trip because I thought it would be fun to sit on the upper level of a bilevel passenger train. But, I didn’t think enough about how delayed a train that comes from Los Angeles is likely to be. It left Portland 2 hours 31 minutes delayed.
Pretty sure I counted 8 cars on this one. At the same length of 85’ per car, that makes a total train length of ~680’. Being bilevel, though, these cars stand at a height of 16’—only two feet taller than the Cascades passenger cars, but with upper-level seats far higher above the ground.
The Coast Starlight also features sleeper cars, a dining car and a sightseer lounge car with full-height windows, none of which are on the Cascades. https://t.co/EDm2OcYfyc
