Featured Waymark in Active Rail Locations
Download this waymark:
.LOC File
.KML File (Google Earth)
Commencement Bay Grain Terminal - Tacoma, WA, USA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Hikenutty
N 47° 15.673 W 122° 26.407
10T E 542357 N 5234344
Quick Description: 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.
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 3/8/2008 7:24:38 PM
Waymark Code: WM3B9R
Reviewed By: Groundspeak Premium Member Team Farkle 7
Views: 12
Long Description:
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

Visit Instructions:
When logging a visit please include your own pictures and details of your experience. Pictures of rail activity in action are greatly encouraged and appreciated!

Try to provide the time of day you visited and how much activity you witnessed.

By providing times and activity in your details, the next visitor might have a better idea of when to make their visit.

Keep this in mind when you visit an Active Rail Locations waymark, the railroad determines how much activity there is on any given day.

Thank You!
Search for...
Geocaching.com Maps
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Microsoft Local
Yahoo Maps
Rand McNally
Topozone
Terraserver
Tiger Census Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Active Rail Locations
Nearest Geocaches
Nearest Benchmarks
Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log User Rating  
Hikenutty visited Commencement Bay Grain Terminal - Tacoma, WA, USA 3/10/2008 Hikenutty visited it

View all visits/logs