Swinomish Bridges
The Swinomish Bridges gallery is organized by date and is divided into three sections. The first section are the years 2014-2017, which are pictures of the bridge prior to the Maintenance of Way work in 2017. The years 2018-2021, showing the bridge after the work was completed. The last section contains detailed photos of the bridge and the maintenance of way work completed, organized by project. To get a detail description of the pictures click on an image to start the slideshow.
Swinomish Swing Bridge
2014-2017
First Shot of Swinomish Swing Bridge 7.6
The Swinomish Channel Swing bridge with tower in the closed position.
BNSF in BN Green Crosses Over the Swinomish Swing Bridge
My first shot of a train crossing over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
Local Annie BNSF 2669 Crosses Over the Swinomish Swing Bridge
BNSF 2669 crosses over the Swinomish sing bridge with an oil train.
Headed Out
BNSF 6108 heads east with an oil tanker train over the Swinomish swing bridge.
BNSF 2089 Crossing Over the Swinomish Swing Bridge
BNSF 2089 crosses over the Swinomish Swing bridge.
A Muddy Day
The field west of the bridge is prepped for new grass.
BNSF 7175 Crossing the Swinomish Channel
BNSF 7175 leads a tanker train over the Swinomish swing bridge.
Headed Over
Local Annie BNSF 2091 passes by the bridge tenders shack on its way over the Swinomish swing bridge.
BNSF 2091 Crossing the Swinomish Channel
BNSF 2091 crosses over the Swinomish swing bridge with a tanker train.
BNSF 2900 Leads the Consist
A consist led by BNSF 2900 crosses over the Swinomish swing bridge.
Tanker Cars Over the Swinomish
An oil train crossing over the Swinomish Channel Swing bridge.
Leaving Fidalgo
Local Annie BNSF 2900 leaves Fidalgo Island over the Swinomish swing bridge with the old fender system.
A Slow Approach
BNSF 7680 slowly approaches the Swinomish swing bridge.
BNSF 6500 Crossing Over the Swinomish Swing Bridge
BNSF 6500 is the end DPU on this tanker train leaving Fidalgo Island.
Under Watchful Eyes
An eagle on the tower of the Swinomish swing bridge watches below as BNSF 6500 brings up the rear.
Waiting on the Bridge Tender
BNSF 2100 stops short of the derailer and awaits clearance from the bridge tender.
BNSF along the Swinomish Channel
BNSF 2100 approaching the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
BNSF 2100 on Approach
BNSF 2100 approaches the Swinomish swing bridge.
BNSF 2100 On The Swinomish Swing Bridge
BNSF 2100 crosses over the Swinomish swing bridge.
BNSF 7599 On Point With The Track Geo Car
BNSF 7599 is the lead engine on this geo car approaching the Swinomish swing bridge.
CREX 1429 Leaving March Point
An EB CREX 1429 crossing over the Swinomish swing bridge.
A Snowy Crossing
BNSF 8117 approaches the Swinomish swing bridge on a snowy December day.
Sunrise Over the Swinomish
BNSF 6891 approaches the Swinomish Channel swing bridge at sunrise.
BNSF 6691 Crossing Over The Swinomish Swing Bridge
BNSF 6691 leads a tanker train west over the Swinomish Channel Swing bridge.
You May Proceed
BNSF 4227 proceeds over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train at the maximum authorized speed of 10 mph.
Low Tide
BNSF 3794 passes over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge during low tide.
Spring Is In The Air
BNSF 5700 leads a tanker train west over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
Sante Fe In The Mix
BNSF crossing over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train.
SD70 On The Rear
BNSF 9059 is the end DPU on this tanker train headed west over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
The Last DPU
BNSF 5027 is the end DPU on this tanker train leaving the March Point refinery complex.
An Early Start
BNSF 5661 heads west over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with an oil tanker train.
A Foggy Approach
BNSF 8249 approaches the Swinomish Channel swing bridge in the fog.
Sunrise Over The Swinomish
The Swinomish Channel swing bridge at sunrise.
Swinomish Swing Bridge MoW
2014-2017
The Chainsaw
Pilings are cut with a chainsaw and/or removed entirely with a crane.
Out With The Old
A contractor attaches a chain to an old wood piling.
Keep It Coming
A derrick barge crane lifting a piling from the channel floor.
The End Is In Sight
Looking at the full length of an old piling being removed from the swing bridge.
Laid to Rest
The crane swings around to place the piling on the barge.
Work in Progress
A derrick barge with crane is used to install the new fender system.
Walk On The Right
A view of the Swinomish Channel Swing bridge in the open position prior to installation of a new walkway and handrail.
North Fender/Whaler
The new fender on the north side of the bridge.
Construction of the Fender System
Construction of the fender system prior to installation.
Construction Traffic
An oil train crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge during the construction of the new fender system.
The Old Wooden Approach Span
A view of the wooden deck and piers (pilings) on the approach span to the swing bridge.
Begininngs of A New Approach
View of the start of a crib for new bents and caps.
Bridge Crib
View of the start of a crib for new bents and caps.
Close Up Of An Old Approach
View of the old wooden approach on the west side of the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
A Comparison
View of the new west end approach with the old wooden pilings and the new concrete pilings.
Profile of the Wooden Deck and Piers
A portion of the old wooden deck and pier.
The Substructure Revealed
A portion of the the new concrete pier lies on top of newly poured caissons.
Still Standing
A profile of the last section of wooden piers connected to the abutment to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Stand Alone
A closer look at the wooden piers and abutment to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Out With The Old In With The New
The last section of the wooden deck and piers to be removed on the approach to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Last Pier Standing
The last section of the wooden deck and piers to be removed on the approach to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Topless
A view of the new concrete deck and piers and the old wooden deck and piers.
Almost Done.
View of the second bent with cap. The wood crib will eventually be removed.
A New Bent Cap
View of a bent cap on the new west end approach to the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
A Colorful Start
Maintenance of Way crews begin work on replacing the wooden trestle span to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Bringing in the Track
Maintenance of Way crews working to lay a section of rail.
Keeping It Steady
Crews walk a section of track over for placement.
Man and Machine
Crews assist in lining up a new section of track.
Almost There
A view of Maintenance of Way crews laying a section of track.
Piece by Piece
Maintenance of Way crews use a crane to lay sections of rail on the newly installed concrete tubs.
A Little Assistance
With the help of a rail crane, crews lay a section of track.
Laying Track on the Swinomish Swing Bridge
Maintenance of Way crews and a crane lower a section of track.
Line It Up
A crane is used to lay sections of track on the new concrete deck.
Checking for Aligment
Crews check the alignment on a new section of track.
A Group Effort
Maintenance of Way crews work to align the two track spans.
Making It Fit
Crews help line up a section of track being lowered by a rail crane.
A New Approach
Maintenance of Way working to complete the new concrete approach to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Bridge Work
Maintenance of Way crews work to complete a new concrete approach to the Swinomish swing bridge.
Remnants From The Past
An old ATSF rail crane is used to lay sections of rail on the new approach span to the Swinomish swing bridge.
New West End Approach
The completed west end approach.
Close-Up of the New Approach
The new west end bridge approach.
A New View
North side of the west end approach while the Swinomish Channel swing bridge is in the open position.
West Pier
View of the west pier with the Swinomish Channel swing bridge in the open position.
A Bent
The new bent which has four steel pilings, crossbar and concrete bent cap.
Abutment Wall
Abutment wall for the new west end approach to the Swinomish Channel bridge.
Caps and Walkways
Piling caps and walkways sections for installation on the new approach.
Metal Pilings and Abutment Wall
View of part of the metal pilings and partial abutment wall.
Concrete Tubs
Concrete tubs for the new approach.
Window View
A view of an approaching train through the window of the old bridge tender shack which sat on the eat bridge pier. The bridge tender could see the rails join from this vantage point.
Date Plate
Connection Point
Lookout Below
Bird excrement on the deck of the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
On The Lookout
An eagle perched next to the insulator on top of the old Swinomish swing bridge tower.
Skagit River Crossing Over the Swinomish Swing Bridge
The Skagit River geo car taking measurements on the Anacortes spur.
Geo Car on the Swinomish Swing Bridge
BNSF's Skagit River geo car crossing over the Swinomish swing bridge.
Measuring Track
BNSF's Skagit River geo car crossing over the Swinomish swing bridge.
Bridge Repair
Maintenance of Way crews working on the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
Boom Truck
Maintenance of Way crews with a boom truck doing some repairs on the bridge.
Summer Bridge Work
A Maintenance of Way stops on the Swinomish swing bridge to perform some routine maintenance.
2018-2021
A New Bridge
BNSF 5422 leads a tanker train west over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
Morning Light
BNSF 8488 crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train in the early morning light.
Summer Soltice
BNSF 7057 heads east over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train on the summer soltice.
Leaving Anacortes
BNSF 4226 leads a tanker train east over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
A Grassy Deck
BNSF 4792 crosses over a grassy Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train.
Refinery Train
BNSF 8350 is the end DPU on this tanker train headed into the March Point refinery complex.
Open During Construction
During construction, BNSF 4664 and BNSF 760 cross over the Swinomish Channel with a tanker train.
Across the Channel
BNSF heads west over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train.
BNSF 3968 Crossing Over the Swinomish
BNSF 3968 is the end DPU on this tanker train headed west over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
On A Winters Day
BNSF 6984 crossing over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge on a cold winter day.
Busy At Work
BNSF 6984 crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge while logs are being loaded to a barge next door.
A Different Bridge
BNSF 7606 is the end DPU on this tanker train headed east over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
Glowing Pumpkin
A night shot of BNSF 3862 headed east pass the bridge tender shack for the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
A New Fender System
BNSF 9184 is the end DPU on this tanker train crossing over the Swinomish Channel Swing bridge.
A Stormy Start
BNSF 9184 is the end DPU on this tanker train crossing over the Swinomish Channel Swing bridge.
Over the Water
BNSF 9184 is the end DPU on this tanker train crossing over the Swinomish Channel Swing bridge.
A Late Night Run
BNSF 6694 and BNSF 4570 approaching the east end of the Swinomish Channel swing bridge at night.
Midnight Annie
BNSF 3149 on the east approach to the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
BNSF 3009 Crossing Over the Swinomish Channel Swing Bridge
On a rainy afternoon, BNSF 3009 crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a short tanker train.
BNSF 128 Crossing Over the Swinomish Channel
BNSF 128 approaches the Swinomish Channel Swing Bridge with the new fender.
Sunset Annie
Local Annie crossing over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge at sunset.
Afternoon Annie
Local Annie BNSF 2080 crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge.
Local Annie On The Move
Local Annie BNSF 2515 takes a short tanker train west over the Swinomish Channel bridge.
Local Annie BNSF 2361 On The Move
Local Annie BNSF 2361 crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train.
The New Swinomish Channel Swing Bridge
The Swinomish Channel swing bridge in the open position.
BNSF 2081 Crossing Over The Swinomish Channel
Local Annie BNSF 2081 making its daily eastbound crossing over the Swinomish Channel.
Blue Skies
Local Annie BNSF 3156 crosses over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge on a beautiful spring day.
BNSF 2900 Leads the Consist
A consist led by BNSF 2900 crosses over the Swinomish swing bridge.
Sante Fe In The Mix
BNSF crossing over the Swinomish Channel swing bridge with a tanker train.