Taking a look back at the long line of cars behind me at the Queen Avenue crossing on May 7, 2025.
Waiting at the Queen Avenue railroad crossing is part of life in Albany. It’s an essential element, you might say, of the Hub City Experience.
From time to time I and many others have waited there sitting in cars or trucks. One day last week I was on the bike, riding west on Queen about 5:30 in the afternoon, when the line of vehicles idling on Queen told me the crossing arm had been down for some time.
With nothing better to do, I took out my phone and snapped a few shots. The phone keeps a record of the time when photos are taken. The first shot was timed at 5:32. By the time the switch engine cleared the crossing, it was 5:38.
Six minutes. I’m guessing that most people waiting on both sides of the crossing thought they had to wait longer than that. And the wait was longer for those that got there just as the arms first came down.
As the switch engine pushed or pulled the box cars back and forth, they cleared the crossing at least twice. Just a few more yards, and the arms could have gone up and let traffic go through.
But no, each time the train stopped just short of that wished-for moment, only to go back the other way.
Maybe that’s something the managers of the Portland & Western or the yard crew could work on. I don’t know. It may not be safe or technically feasible to temporarily clear the crossing before that particular switching operation is complete.
As it is, the operation adds a bit of suspense to drivers waiting on Queen. Is this the time the engine or the train will go just another 20 yards to let us through? Or will it reverse directions one more time? (hh)
The switch engine, moving to the right, stopped instead of moving a few yards farther to clear the crossing.
The train, moving to the left, stopped to let an employee throw the switch near the sidewalk before moving right again.
The switch engine, moving into the yard to the right, clears the street just before the crossing arms go up.
Isn’t there a time limit on how long they can block it?
No.
There use to be a 15 minute time limit. And a phone number you could call along with a box car number on the train. And they would have to break the train for emergency vehicles. But alas no more. So if you are dying in one of those apartments on Washington you will now have to wait for assistance and you must go the long way around to the hospital.
What happened to the time limit?
The time limit was set by the Oregon Public Utility Commissioner. If memory serves, some time in the eighties somebody — can’t remember who — determined that states could not regulate railroads, that this was a federal prerogative.
I would really appreciate some one to reduce the amount of air psi to just the switching yard train.so one engineer cannot open it up as loud as possible. While others use it who take on a lighter touch. I do also appreciate the length of blasts has been reduced…
Maybe consider deflecting the sound up instead of straight out .
Don’t get me wrong. First by sea,then by rail,then by truck. It’s not the trains. It’s lack of research on decibel rating for a train that only switches cars in the Albany yard…
You’re correct. There’s loud, and then there’s too loud.
Yeah…I went that way the other day; put my vehicle in park, rolled down the window and shut off the engine knitted for however long it look. FYI – I always have knitting in my car. While I zenned…some folks were turning around in the middle of the street and some were cursing.
After 50 some years…I know that if you take Queen it’s bound to happen. If you don’t want it to happen, then take a different road. Else-wise…put your vehicle in park, roll ;down the window, shut off your engine and take advantage of just being.
Back in the day, I worked at WAHS and I live in South Albany. So many times I was stuck on the east side of the tracks. Ugh. It was a bit stressful but I persevered. Your beautiful wife was head of the GAPS H.R. She was a wonderful lady. Truly.
The Pacific Blvd overpass was built to help allow people to cross OVER the rail yard. Yes, it means having to travel a little further but it beats having to wait at the Queen Ave crossing. Also, if people stay in the left lane on Queen it make it easier to turn around to take an alternate route.
Oh yes, the nostalgia of waiting for the train with my mom or dad or both. We woyld have little betting games on if this was the time the engine would clear the crossing. I remember once the engine pulled south leaving more than enough room, only to have a fast freight come blasting by from the south.
The railroad was supposed to improve the crossing. It sure is still bumpy. Why not make the crossing like 34th ave. smooth.
Blocking Queen Ave has been this stupid at least in the 60+ years I’ve been driving in Albany.