Argo Crossing (Seattle) – Seattle, Washington, USA | Train Spotting Location

Argo Crossing is one of the few active diamond interlockings in the Pacific Northwest, where the busy north–south main lines of BNSF Railway and Union Pacific intersect at grade just south of downtown Seattle. From a single vantage point, railfans can witness long freight drags, Amtrak corridor trains, and yard transfers threading the complex junction against a backdrop of Mount Rainier and the Duwamish industrial flats—making it a must-visit spot for anyone serious about Pacific Northwest railroading.

🛤️ The Trainspotting Experience

A typical visit delivers near-constant motion. The informal viewing area along S. Albro Place provides an eye-level view of the diamond about 200 ft away, with enough offset to capture side profiles and head-on approaches. Expect ground-shaking rumble as 10,000-ft unit grain or intermodal trains grind over the jointed diamonds at 15–20 mph, while faster Amtrak Cascades Talgo sets glide through on the BNSF side at up to 40 mph when the route is clear. Wheel squeal and horn echoes amplify under the concrete flyovers of Interstate 5, so bring ear protection if you stay for hours. Nighttime visits reward patient fans with dramatic headlight flares and the staccato screech of flange contact on the crossing plates.

🌄 Landscape, Setting and Local Atmosphere

Argo Crossing sits in the lowlands east of the Duwamish Waterway at roughly 25 ft above sea level. The terrain is flat, reclaimed tideland bordered by warehouses, container yards, and the southern edge of Georgetown—a historic Seattle neighborhood known for brick breweries and artist studios. Seasonal black cottonwoods line the drainage ditch, offering pockets of shade in summer. On clear days, the snow-capped summit of Mount Rainier rises to the southeast, framing locomotives in a dramatic Pacific Northwest tableau. Expect marine air: winter months bring mist and drizzle, while summer afternoons can be bright but rarely exceed 85 °F, keeping equipment heat shimmer to a minimum.

🚂 Type and Frequency of Train Activity

• BNSF Seattle Subdivision: 20–25 through freights daily, dominated by double-stack intermodal, manifest, and unit grain trains bound for the ports of Tacoma and Seattle.
• Passenger: Amtrak Cascades (8 round trips) and the Coast Starlight (1 round trip) add roughly 18 passenger movements per day, plus occasional Sound Transit Sounder repositioning moves.
• Union Pacific Seattle Subdivision: 8–10 long freights, chiefly manifest and intermodal, with additional yard transfers to UP’s Argo Yard immediately north of the diamond.
• Yard & local: BNSF Georgetown local jobs and UP road-switchers work the surrounding industrial spurs, contributing random light-engine or short-car moves.
Total activity averages 40–50 train movements in 24 hours, making waits rarely longer than 30 minutes during daylight.

📸 Best Angles for Photos and What Railfans Enjoy Most

1. East Side Embankment: A small rise beside Ellis Ave S. lets photographers shoot westward across the diamond with afternoon light illuminating locomotive noses and the skyline faintly in the distance.
2. South Albro Overpass: From the sidewalk, a slightly elevated perspective captures crossover action plus the arcing track geometry that leads into the crossing; ideal around midday when sun angles are high.
3. Dusk Silhouettes: Position on the north service road to frame trains against sunset glow over the Duwamish basin—tripod recommended for long exposures that streak headlights over the steel lattice.
   Telephoto lenses (135–200 mm) compress the approach curves, while wide-angles (24–35 mm) emphasize signal bridges and the diamond grid. Railfans prize the synchronized meet—when a UP freight pauses at the dwarf signal while an Amtrak set rushes through—producing dynamic contrast shots.

🕰️ Historical or Cultural Relevance

The crossing dates to 1906, when the Oregon–Washington Railroad & Navigation Company reached Seattle, necessitating an at-grade interface with the Great Northern (now BNSF). Argo Yard, immediately to the north, became a strategic interchange for wartime shipbuilding traffic during World War II. Georgetown’s pre-Prohibition Rainier Brewery shipped beer in wooden reefers over this same junction, and remnants of the original brick warehouses still line Airport Way S., a short walk away. Though much trackage around Seattle has been elevated or relocated, Argo remains an original surface-level crossing, a living exhibit of early 20th-century railroad engineering.

🧭 What Makes This Spot Different from Others

Few West Coast locations combine a high-volume double-track diamond with both Class I freight carriers and daily passenger service in an urban setting. Unlike nearby public platforms at King Street Station, Argo offers unobstructed side-on views of 100-car freights at slow speed, giving enthusiasts time to catalog locomotives, observe hand signals, and listen to the dispatcher chatter on a scanner. The mix of historical infrastructure and modern Tier 4 power sets Argo apart from rural hotspots like Stampede Pass or the Columbia Gorge, delivering variety without requiring long drives.

📚 Additional Resources

BNSF Railway – Seattle Subdivision Timetable
NW Railfan Forum Thread on Argo Crossing
Northwest Railway Museum"