Ballard Terminal Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Ballard Terminal Railroad , a short line terminal railroad
in Seattle, Washington, USA
's Ballard
neighborhood, was formed in 1997 to operate trains on three miles of track on the north side of Salmon Bay
. The spur had been abandoned earlier that year by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. BNSF had only three customers when it decided to abandon service in early 1997: the Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel Co., the Olsen Furniture Co., and Western Pioneer Shipping, a fish processing company. Western Pioneer was hit especially hard by the line's closing. To ensure continued service, the companies and other investors formed the Ballard Terminal Railroad, and it began operation early the next year with a 1940s-era locomotive
formerly belonging to the Milwaukee Road.
The Ballard Terminal Railroad runs from N.W. 40th Street and 6th Avenue N.W., just south of its Bright Street Yard and on the edge of Fremont
, northwest toward Ballard proper. There, it passes the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
and runs along Seaview Avenue N.W. to its Shilshole Yard, where it joins the BNSF mainline just north of N.W. 68th Street. Most of the railroad was originally part of the Great Northern Railway's main line, moved to the west when the Lake Washington Ship Canal
was built.
The Ballard Terminal Railroad, Co. also operates two other lines. Eastside Rail Freight is a segment from Snohomish
to Woodinville
, started operations in 2009 on the former BNSF Railway
's Woodinville Subdivision
. Meeker Southern runs 5 mi (8 km) from Puyallup
to McMillan, Washington.
Terminal Railroad
Terminal Railroad or Terminal Railway may refer to:*Terminal railroad, a railroad that operates a terminal facility*Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks*Terminal Railway of Buffalo, predecessor of the New York Central Railroad...
in Seattle, Washington, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's Ballard
Ballard, Seattle, Washington
Ballard is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Seattle, Washington. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, ; to the east by Greenwood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont ; to the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. The neighborhood’s...
neighborhood, was formed in 1997 to operate trains on three miles of track on the north side of Salmon Bay
Salmon Bay
Salmon Bay is that part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal--which passes through the city of Seattle, linking Lake Washington to Puget Sound--that lies west of the Fremont Cut. It is the westernmost section of the canal, and empties into Shilshole Bay, which is part of Puget Sound. Because of the...
. The spur had been abandoned earlier that year by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. BNSF had only three customers when it decided to abandon service in early 1997: the Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel Co., the Olsen Furniture Co., and Western Pioneer Shipping, a fish processing company. Western Pioneer was hit especially hard by the line's closing. To ensure continued service, the companies and other investors formed the Ballard Terminal Railroad, and it began operation early the next year with a 1940s-era locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
formerly belonging to the Milwaukee Road.
The Ballard Terminal Railroad runs from N.W. 40th Street and 6th Avenue N.W., just south of its Bright Street Yard and on the edge of Fremont
Fremont, Seattle, Washington
Fremont is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Originally a separate city, it was annexed to Seattle in 1891. Named after Fremont, Nebraska, the hometown of two of its founders, L. H. Griffith and E...
, northwest toward Ballard proper. There, it passes the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are a complex of locks that sit at the west end of Salmon Bay, part of Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal. They are known locally as the Ballard Locks after the neighborhood to their north...
and runs along Seaview Avenue N.W. to its Shilshole Yard, where it joins the BNSF mainline just north of N.W. 68th Street. Most of the railroad was originally part of the Great Northern Railway's main line, moved to the west when the Lake Washington Ship Canal
Lake Washington Ship Canal
The Lake Washington Ship Canal, which runs through the City of Seattle, Washington, connects the fresh water body of Lake Washington with the salt water inland sea of Puget Sound. The Ship Canal includes a series of locks, modeled after the Panama Canal, to accommodate the different water levels...
was built.
The Ballard Terminal Railroad, Co. also operates two other lines. Eastside Rail Freight is a segment from Snohomish
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
to Woodinville
Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
, started operations in 2009 on the former BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
's Woodinville Subdivision
Woodinville Subdivision
The Woodinville Subdivision is a railroad line that was formerly owned by BNSF Railway and takes its names from one of its original end points in Woodinville, Washington, United States. The line extends approximately in east King County and Snohomish County. The line's ownership has been...
. Meeker Southern runs 5 mi (8 km) from Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
to McMillan, Washington.