A Northern Pacific survivor in Steilacoom, WA. Built for Northern Pacific Railway, this station opened in 1914 and served both the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern Railway until 1970 when it was closed by its new owner, the Burlington Northern Railroad. BNSF Railway inherited the property after a merger and is the current owner. and uses the property for maintenance and staging. The building has since been boarded up in 2001 when an earthquake struck the area. Today, the building is in danger of demolition. This despite several attempts by several groups to preserve and re-purpose the building. While BNSF has graciously offered to donate the building, one of the caveats is that it any new owner must move the building from the waterfront property as BNSF feels it lies too close to the active mainline. The car ferry, seen to the right, runs often providing transit to nearby Anderson Island - a small 7.75 square mile island whose primary industry was the sale of wood to the wood-burning steamers that came into Amsterdam Bay. Today the island is a resort town populated with many upscale residences. Though I missed the Sun and blue skies, I'm told this is the typical view a tourist might expect. Many thanks to fellow RP'r, Steve Carter for the short tour before a flight home!
