HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Working on the railroad at Davidson Street

Written June 22nd, 2024 by Hasso Hering

Ballast is being unloaded Saturday on the Water Avenue rail line at Davidson Street.

On one of my bike routes through old Albany’s east end, men were working Saturday at the Davidson Street grade crossing on the Water Avenue rail line.

As announced on the City of Albany’s Facebook page ahead of time, the Portland & Western Railroad planned to rebuild the Davidson and Burkhart Street crossings “to help protect against derailments.”

The job on Davidson started Saturday, and the work was expected to keep the crossing closed for two to three days.

The project on Burkhart Street has been postponed, and no new date has been announced.

The railroad has been busy since the winter rebuilding parts of the old Oregon Electric track, which in Albany runs along Water Avenue on its way to Eugene.
The railroad has replaced a lot of old crossties on the line. A mountain of the wooden ties is stored beside the track near Burkhart Street.
Years ago there was talk in Albany that this line might some day be abandoned or rerouted so it would no longer run along Water Avenue. That speculation is pretty much ruled out by all the recent work the Portland & Western has been doing on the track. (hh)

 

Old railroad ties are being temporarily stored beside the Water Avenue track near Burkhart Street. (I took the photo on Thursday, June 20.)





6 responses to “Working on the railroad at Davidson Street”

  1. Coffee says:

    Thanks, Hasso, for keeping us up on what is going on with Albany’s railroads.

  2. Al Nyman says:

    Glad to see the $3.5 million contract is rebuilding the railroad.

    • Hasso Hering says:

      It’s not. That contract covers only the cost of the crossings involved in the CARA Waterfront Project.

      • MarK says:

        Again, the @#$* waterfront project. We’ll be haunted by that fiasco for generations! All that money could have really done some good for the city, but nnoooo!

      • Al Nyman says:

        If you actually believe 12 crossings for pedestrians cost $3.5 million you should run for city council or better yet get on the Cara board.

  3. CHEZZ says:

    In case anyone is noticing, Albany Downtown is moving forward with many changes to come – you might be glad you live here.

 

 
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