Tag Archives: disused

Clifton Rocks Railway

The area of Bristol known as Clifton sits on the top of the hill overlooking the Avon.  To get from the water to Clifton is quite a climb.  These days you would drive up there but, in the days, when vessels would be bringing passengers in by boat along the river, an alternative was required.  The Clifton Rocks Railway was the solution.  This was a funicular railway that ran in a tunnel from alongside the river up to near the suspension bridge.

Built in the 1890s, it operated until the 1930s when the decline in passenger numbers meant it was no longer viable.  The tunnels were used as office space during the Second World War with the BBC being one of the tenants and they continued to use the space into the 1960s.  There is now an effort to restore aspects of the tunnels although the railway will never operate again given the usage the tunnels have had since service ended.  The station at the bottom is still visible but is now alongside a busy roadway so might easily be missed as you drive past.

Snoqualmie Valley Trail

I can waste a fair bit of time panning around in Google Maps looking at things I had no idea were there.  I was looking up near Snoqualmie Falls when I saw a label for Tokul Trestle.  A look around showed a trail on the track bed of a disused railroad.  The Snoqualmie Valley Trail starts down in the valley near Carnation and runs up to the town of Snoqualmie.  I had no idea it was there and will be looking at riding it at some point.  Anyway, I had a rainy Sunday and wanted to check out the falls – see another post specifically about that – and, having finished up there, I decided to take a walk along a section of the trail.  It was intermittently raining but I was dressed appropriately so took a stroll.  I did see the occasional cyclist, runner or walker but was on my own for most of the time.  It did occur to me that the foothills of the Cascades have plenty of mountain lions but they were obviously elsewhere and left me alone.

The area is quite enclosed by the trees and it is clearly a damp place given the amount of lichen growing on the trees.  That will also get another post.  It does make for some interesting colors when the light does break through, though.  The darkness of the trail contrasts nicely with the greens of the lichen as the sun catches it.  Sections of it feel like you are walking through a tunnel.  (There is an actual tunnel too but, you’ve guessed it, more of that another time.)

I look forward to getting to explore this trail in more detail.  A bike seems like the best bet for checking it all out but there are a few trailheads along the way so driving up and walking along it will be a good option.

Cross Kirkland Connector

I was out on the bike doing a short trip to Bellevue to a) get some miles in and b) buy some new cycling gloves.  On the way back, I decided to take a different route and try out the Cross Kirkland Connector.  This is a bike and walking trail across Kirkland that uses an old rail route.  This is part of a network of trails which, when finished will take you from the Skagit county line, through Snohomish, down to Woodinville, on to Kirkland and then via Bellevue to Renton.  It will be a while before it is all open, though.

I have ridden on the connector once when we lived in Juanita.  It isn’t paved so is a little dusty but it is a good surface in the most part.  There is construction underway at one end where a bridge will soon take the trail across a larger road.  It feels remarkably secluded given that it is through some densely populated areas.  One part of the trail has what seems to be a railway halt.  There is a shelter and some old track and signals to show the heritage of what the line once was.  The right of way would be ideal for reintroducing passenger service but I think the objections to that would be strenuous from the trail’s users, even if tracks and trails could coexist.  I doubt it will happen in my lifetime!

NAS Alameda

AU0E8196.jpgNAS Alameda was once a busy naval air station. Of course, as is the way with these things, they get closed down long before I end up living in an area. How cool it would have been to be near a station when it was operating such a variety of types as were there at its peak. Now it is more famous for being the location that Mythbusters have used for a number of their driving related exploits. Big runways with little use provide a great playground.

AU0E8191.jpgThe climb out of Oakland International takes you directly towards Alameda and you get a far better view of the runways than is otherwise possible. The hangars are now getting used for other tasks and the area is not deserted but it is nice to image ramps full of jets and maritime patrol aircraft. Oh well.