Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
Our WOW group continued on to the railroad bridge which is also all lit up (thanks again to the S’Klallam Tribe.) We arrived about 4:30 and the sky was all orange thanks to the setting sun. I’ve never seen it like this before. The silhouetted trees were outrageous. And the contrast of the cool lights and the warm sky breathtaking. So happy I was there WITH a camera!
Railroad Bridge is an old railroad trestle across the Dungeness River, owned by our local Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. It is a link in the Olympic Discovery Trail and is well used by walkers and bicyclists. A couple of years ago the section of the bridge beyond the wooden trestle seen here in the foreground collapsed after being battered by debris during flooding. It was rebuilt and after it was completed the entire bridge was repaved.
The repaving incorporated beautiful plaques with motifs that are used in Native American art in this region.
The plaques are about 3 feet by 2 feet (.91 meters by .60 meters).
They are striking additions to the bridge.
Last winter floodwaters and accompanying debris on the Dungeness River undermined and collapsed part of the Railroad Bridge. The historic trestle survived without damage but the western portion of the span required replacement. A new prefabricated deck has recently been placed on new foundations. This is the portion on the right, above, that does not have tall vertical timbers above the deck.
Here’s a view from the other side, looking westward along the side of the bridge. A fence at the west end of the trestle makes it hard to get a good shot of the new deck.
This property belongs to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. The Tribe has partnered with a variety of entities to rebuild the bridge. The good news is that the new portion of the bridge was engineered to reduce the number of pilings in the river and removed old ones that had been treated with creosote. This improves salmon habitat and allow a less impeded river flow.
I visited the Railroad Bridge recently to check out the progress on the new west end of the span. I’ll show you what it looks like on Wednesday.
The lines of Sequim’s Railroad Bridge are total eye candy and it’s irresistible to photographers, painters, and other artists who have rendered beautiful images of it for decades.
There are gorgeous native trees and shrubs on both sides of the bridge and it’s pleasant to visit just about any time of the year.
Although I’ll still post, I’m away for a few days and may not be able to check in regularly. See you next week!
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries when logging was king on the Olympic Peninsula, the area was laced with spur railroads that brought logs out of the local forests. Some of the historic railways became current roadbeds but functioning railroads no longer exist here. Railroad Bridge, across the Dungeness River, is one vestage, a bridge that was restored over 20 years ago by volunteers. It is now a park and part of the Olympic Discovery Trail. Adjacent to our local Audubon Center, its caretakers are the River Center Foundation and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.
The Railroad Bridge is a wonderful place to walk. The river teems with life and it’s a good place to see birds. Volunteers completed a ramp up to the bridge, making it accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles. I think it’s a lovely example of an historic working bridge and the setting couldn’t be prettier.
This is what the bridge looks like from the river level. I’ll post a couple more photos of the bridge next week.
Happy Passover!
This photo is posted as part of Weekly Top Shot hosted by Madge of The View from Right Here. To see others Top Shots, click below:
