Let's take the train!

Amtrak Cascades train en route to Seattle
Today we are are officially celebrating the addition of a second, direct round-trip Amtrak Cascades service between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, B.C at King Street Station with Governor Gregoire and the British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. Since the second began on August 19, ridership is averaging 60 riders per day and growing, which is pretty exciting. So in honor of today's event, our photos are all about Amtrak Cascades.






Let's start off will a little history:


These are the new Amtrak Cascades Talgo train sets arriving from Spain in the fall of 1997. I dig that guy's bright red coveralls.



The new Amtrak Cascades trains were tested in Pueblo, CO in November of 1998 prior to putting them into service. Part of the testing included taking them to their top speed of 125 mph.



The inaugural run of new Amtrak Cascades Talgo train pulling into Seattle's King Street Station in January 1999.



Here we are along the waterfront in Edmonds, WA. I hear this stretch along the water is particularly beautiful. You can find more photos and a timeline of milestones on Amtrak Cascades. And while you're at it check out some of the fantastic entries we received in the 10th Anniversary Coloring Contest. This is my personal favorite: 5 and Under finalist Tifanie Manyrath's very coloful and creative interpretation.