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Providence Hill Keystone, WA to Eltopia, WA BNSF Lakeside Subdivision
Providence Hill is a well known destination for Northwest railfans. In this guide I will cover not only just the hill, but also the area on either side of the hill itself. Hopefully you will see some new angles and decide to try more than just the "poster shot" from the top of the hill (although this is a great location). There are usually 20-30 trains in a 24hr period although this number can vary slightly. Five daily eastbound manifest trains originate in Pasco, and their counterparts terminate in Pasco daily. These trains are the H-PASLAU, M-PASDIL, H-PASKCK, H-PASNTW, M-PASFTW. The counterparts are the H-NTWPAS, H-LAUPAS, H-CSXPAS, M-SPOPAS, and H-KCKPAS. Sometimes there is an extra train with the M-DILPAS for a symbol. Pasco yard will tell the Pasco East Dispatcher when they want westbound manifest trains that terminate in Pasco, and often the dispatcher will end up having to leave them in a siding for a couple hours before the yard will take the train. This situation got so bad that BNSF made a new train called the M-SPOLVJ and the M-LVJSPO. This has helped traffic get between Spokane and western Washington much faster. Another manifest train you might see is the H-BARPAS or H-BARVAW. Sometimes BNSF routes these trains the long way around through Colorado and Montana instead of up the Oregon Trunk Line. Other traffic includes two daily Z-CHCPTL trains around 12PM and 11PM. Their counterparts run at about 10PM and 10AM. Then there is a V-PTLLPC and an extra train, the V-PTLKCK or V-PTLDEN that seem to run a couple times a week. The S-TCPCHC and TCPLPC trains usually run down through Vancouver, WA, and then on the Lakeside sub instead of up and over Steven's Pass. The other trains found on this sub is the C-SCMCEC coal train and its counterpart which usually run about one train each way a day. Also the C-SCMRBE uses the Lakeside Sub, but the empties usually take Steven's pass since it is faster from Vancouver BC. This train has been running once a week lately but sometimes if the demand is down it could be once every other week. There seems to be about five baretables each week which are either the B-PTLCHC or B-PTLSTA. There is a local that runs out to Connell almost daily to interchange with the CBRW railroad. The other local is the Lind Turn which is a daily local from Spokane. They usually turn around at Tokio after switching the CFI plant. A large bulk of the traffic on this line are grain trains. Most of these run from the Midwest cities to Tacoma, Kalama or Pasco, then the empties run back the other direction. One loop elevator track is located at Templin which is just east of Ritzville. The times on these trains can be anytime, and the number of trains can change too. They will vary depending on the price of grain, but there can be as many as 10-15 grain trains per day. One last type of train is the coal train. There are about 5 trains a week heading from coal mines in Montana or Wyoming to the coal plant at Centralia, WA. Occasionally there will be a coal train for Robert's Bank in Vancouver, BC. The last train on this sub is Amtrak which you won't see (unless you are up late or Amtrak is really late). The eastbound arrives in Spokane just after midnight, and departs back west at 2:45am. The BNSF will usually run anything on their trains. The Pacific Northwest usually has all of the old BN power running around, and it is still common to find 4 SD40-2s on manifest trains. The intermodel trains usually have C44-9Ws and the grain trains have C44-9Ws, AC4400CWs, ES44DCs, or ES44ACs. It isn't uncommon to see leased power from EMD, FURX, or NREX. Also some trains have run through power from NS or MRL. The locals usually use GP38s or GP39s, and sometimes you can see a four axle unit on a road train too. Below I have split up the line into 3 sections with more photos, maps, and details. There is also a timetable, frequency list, and ruling railroad grades. WARNING: This information does not give you any right at all to trespass on Railroad or Private property. Trespassing is breaking the law, and people do so only at their own risk!! If you would like to take pictures from someone else's land then go up to the house and ask permission. Sometimes after you explain what you want, they will not mind as long as you do not spend all day walking all over their property. Walking the railroad tracks is not only trespassing, but it is also very dangerous! Also when you are photographing trains, stay a respectful distance away from the tracks. The railroad not only owns the ground underneath the tracks, but usually they own the ground on either side of the tracks for up to 20 or 30 feet.
Lakeside Subdivision Timetable
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