About
A Spike in Time was created to educate and promote the preservation of railway history, equipment, and structures. It is a visual historical account of today’s railways in Washington state juxtaposed against the Pacific Northwest region’s railway history.
The name A Spike in Time reflects and illustrates this for just as the railroads were built one spike at a time, the history of railroads in Washington state will be told one story at a time. It is not a chronological account; instead, it is a geographical account visually illustrated in stunning detail county by county. Being one of the last states to lay rail in the transcontinental race and having six transcontinental railways transect the state, Washington boasts a fascinating look into a history that helped shape this region’s growth and prosperity.
The seed for A Spike in Time was planted over 10 years ago. Since then, hundreds of miles have been driven and thousands of pictures have been taken. In the coming months, A Spike in Time will explore different counties in the state’s Northwest region, beginning with Whatcom county, which lies along the US-Canadian border. You are invited to check back often as new material will be added weekly.
Hello, my name is Andrea Capiola, and I am the owner of A Spike in Time. I hope you enjoy my site and will pass it along to your friends and family.
I have always been fascinated with capturing moments in time and have used photography in some form or another throughout my life. I started my photographic career early in college, taking pictures in the field and lab for scientific research. After earning three Master’s degrees (biological anthropology, forensic toxicology, and teaching), I continued photographing as a forensic death investigator and later as an educator. Today I use photography in my archaeological work and to capture images of the railways in Washington state for this website and upcoming book.
I live on beautiful Whidbey Island which is located 50 miles northwest of Seattle. What I love most about Washington state are the landscapes. Being an outdoor person, it is the perfect location to enjoy the many spectacular beaches, deserts, mountains and prairies. The variety of landscapes and the beauty all around make Washington the ideal location to highlight railroad operations and maintenance. When I’m not out photographing you can usually find me in the mountains hiking and camping (often conveniently located around railroad tracks) or walking with my St. Bernard, Ragnar, at the beach.
I was introduced to railroad photography 10 years ago, and it has been my passion ever since. Over the last several years, I have traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest capturing thousands of images of the many railways that operate and travel through the state. Now I have compiled these images for you into this website. My goal is to give you a comprehensive historical account of one of the most fascinating and integral industries to our country and economy and to hopefully pass on my love of photography and the railroad.