Commencement Bay Grain Terminal - Tacoma, WA, USA
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 47° 15.673 W 122° 26.407
10T E 542357 N 5234344
This spot on the pedestrian portion of the bridge near Thea's Park overlooks the grain terminal on Commencement Bay. This is where BNSF trains from the midwest unload their grain and it is loaded onto ships headed to Asia.
Waymark Code: WM3B9R
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 03/08/2008
Views: 51
This is a great spot to see agricultural commerce in action. The BNSF trains arrive in Tacoma loaded with grain from the Midwest and unload into the huge grain elevators. Ships are then loaded full of grain and then head off for Asia. The area is very active, however the best time to see the trains and ships is in the morning, we've found. We are usually in this part of town on Saturdays and there are always trains here, it seems.
Park at Thea's Park - N47 15.704 W122 26.401
Walk back to the park entrance and then follow the sidewalk up to the middle of the bridge span. It is very safe if you stay on the sidewalk on the grain elevator side. The south side of the bridge doesn't have a sidewalk and this bridge gets a lot of use so just don't do it!
The views are best from up on the bridge, but you can also see things from a lower perspective at the end of the park, which has benches and a little pebble beach that overlooks the grain terminal.
What Best Describes This Location: Other Describe Below
Other Describe: This is on the mainline, however, the best part is the grain terminal
If there is a fee how much?: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Is this rail location handicap accessible?: Probably, but someone would need to check the sidewalk width for turning around
Related website: Not listed
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