Temco's Tacoma railroad operations: grain switching on the waterfront [6/14/2021]

Some things will sit in front of your face for years at a time, but yet you never bother to pay attention to them or give it a look.
Temco's grain elevator and transload operations in Tacoma is an example of something in my life that always was there and I saw it every week, but I never bothered to really look into. Along with good shooting spots being difficult to access, train operations at Temco are as-needed throughout the day, and as such, totally sporadic.
After a previous failed attempt at watching them switch cars, I arrived that day on foot to try again. walking up Dock Street, I spotted Temco's GP9 locomotive, EFX 1611, shoving a cut of BNSF grain hoppers in reverse, a hearty amount of diesel exhaust pouring out of it's stacks. After some exploration, I found a few hideaway spots to be able to film Temco's old iron horses, still at work after over 70 years on the rails.
Along with being able to film all three of Temco Tacoma's locomotives in action, I was able to shoot a good amount of action from the BNSF Seattle Subdivision, which is the grain elevator's rail artery to the rest of the North American continent, via BNSF and Union Pacific.
I've come to really enjoy Temco and the company's operations in Tacoma, and I can assure you, this won't be the last time the company fleet of three black-and-white EMD diesel locomotives appear on the SSRM KZbin channel.
Locations and trains that appear in this video:
Temco Grain Elevator at Tacoma, WA
0:00 Clearing the unloading track w/engine 185
3:00 Moving the 1611 and 219S
3:44 Reverse movement to the unloading track
Dock Street, Tacoma, WA
4:09 Spotting a USDA Inspection Car w/185
4:50 BNSF H-VBTVAW & Q-ATLPTL
6:55 BNSF X-TACMCE & Amtrak 505
7:27 X-TAC interchange delivery to Temco
8:13 Amtrak 504
9:10 Union Pacific MFIPD
10:31 Spotting BNSF interchange cars w/engine 185
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Thanks for watching Sunset Rail Multimedia!

[@tomroise9426]

Great great video So hard to find industrial switching with actual delivery and movement. Thx for sharing Looking forward to more. Live love the classic EMD power

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

Thank you! The old EMDs are really a treat :)

[@sunnysiderails397]

WOW that is some of the best cinematography I have seen in a rail video... AWESOME job!!!

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

Thank you! More is on the way shortly!

[@markkover8040]

Well done! Very enjoyable.

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

Many thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@tomfrederick6083]

I am retired off Union Pacific in Seattle. I used to go in there quite often, both delivering loads and pulling empties. The 'McCarver' side is much easier to work than the South side (railroad North - everything gets turned around right there due to topography). There are good ways to work the facility, and bad ways. One of the bad ways is to try and spot an entire train into the McCarver tracks from the Railroad North end, instead of taking it in 50-car cuts. Trying to tell that to an FNG conductor is like talking to a dog, except the dog at least wags its tail...

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

As someone who'll be a FNG conductor for UP out of Seattle here soon, I'll definitely take note! Advice from old head such as yourself is definitely needed. Thank you for taking the time to watch, and for your comment!

[@fleetwoodvo8673]

I've worked the XTAC down there. The Geep and the slug are incredible.

[@friedrichshausen_spur_n]

Excellent shunting action. Love it!

[@davidbrown4823]

Quite the busy place. Thank You.

[@lucasrailfanning3305]

Great footage! I think the last time I was down at Temco was in 2013, and I saw them doing some switching with 1611. Nice that you got all that other train action too!

[@cameronreason]

Awesome video.. Love seeing videos from my local area..Thanks for sharing!

[@503railfan]

Cool vid tom. Railfans often neglect to document terminals and industries such as this one, whether it's due to lack of access or just not caring. Videos like this are really interesting.

[@BenAtPlay18]

In this case I'd definitely say it's lack of access, since really the only safe shot is that overpass. For the shots he featured at the beginning he's standing just off a busy highway.

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

Temco is hard to get to, even on foot. I had to dodge traffic on I-705 to find a ledge to shoot on under a tree. If you're driving a car, park it somewhere and walk, you'll be better off than trying to park somewhere.

[@503railfan]

I wasn't really talking about Temco in specific, just that people tend to focus on aspects of railroading other than industries and terminals

[@SteveCase1]

@@SunsetRailMultimedia I was there this morning (shooting stills before sunrise) and I agree!

[@beeble2003]

If the problem is a lack of access, railfans aren't "neglecting" to document, they're _unable._

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video and channel just subscribed

[@Greatdome99]

Tacoma Export Marketing Company (TEMCO). Elevator built by Continental Grain until they got out of the human food business.

[@portlandrailfanproductions1155]

Is that a Leslie on 1611

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

I'm not entirely sure, I've never heard the 1611 blow it's horn. I sure will try to get a recording, though!

[@lukeanakar]

That track is a horrible bottleneck if they double tracked the tunnel trains wouldn’t have to idle for hours and they could add a sounder service to Ruston and Steilacoom

[@streetrodder2846]

The Temco's Tacoma railroad operations leaves a lot of safety regulations lying in the dirt. DON'T STEP ON THE RAIL WHEN CROSSING OVER TRACKS. WORK ON THE ENGINEER'S SIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE DURING SWITCHING OPERATIONS.

[@SunsetRailMultimedia]

I'm just a videographer man, I don't care about that shit.

[@danielhandler6646]

@@SunsetRailMultimediawhy are you so triggered. No need to cuss at this commenter. Take it easy man.