16 Comments
Feb 8Liked by David B. Williams

Thanks for the great read. I live on Metro Route 4 in Judkins Park and reflect often on the connection to the old trolley system.

With regards to the retaining walls, are they these waist-high walls for example here [1] and here [2]? Are both the beams and the concrete from the trolley system? Amazing if so -- I would have never guessed just by looking at them.

1: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5838627,-122.3095037,3a,75y,271.77h,79.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sS9akcQdEJu6MReUQja4heg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

2: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5939857,-122.3144078,3a,75y,226.88h,72.24t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPAEz8UzsMcHd87ZGvMx-ug!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DPAEz8UzsMcHd87ZGvMx-ug%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D326.00327%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

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Feb 10Liked by David B. Williams

Great article. When Olympic Way W on the SW slope of Queen Anne was repaved a few years ago some tracks were exposed. The asphalt is now cracked, indicating the rail locations if you know where to look.

I have also heard that the building at 1821 10th Ave W had trolley maintenance facilities, but I have never been able to find any documentation. Curious if anyone has any info.

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Feb 10Liked by David B. Williams

Another excellent example of the street car rail & ties being recycled into retaining walls can be seen along 49th Ave SW directly uphill of (the so called) Endolyne Park

https://maps.apple.com/?address=Endolyne Park, Seattle, WA 98136, United States&ll=47.514448,-122.394389&q=Endolyne Park&_mvs=CjYJy2r47eHBR0AR7daKuTuZXsAZAACAdu0wL0AhvqSxPjNAYkApepjbP4pQL0AxAAAAAAAAAAASIgoLNDl0aCBBdmUgU1cSCkZhdW50bGVyb3kaB1NlYXR0bGU%3D

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Feb 10Liked by David B. Williams

Where, exactly, is the end of the line in Endolyne? Maps and commentary are vague, ambiguous, and confusing. One of the most commonly cited (including by Mike Bergman) locations is 45th Ave SW and SW Roxbury St, but that is physically impossible; the narrow road there traverses a steep slope.

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founding
Feb 9Liked by David B. Williams

I have wondered about that isolated piece of cobblestone wall in Woodland park for years!! This is a wonderful revelation. Similarly, I bike under and wonder at the amazing bridge (also pictured) over Lake Washington blvd. It appears to be from some past civilization, which in a way it is.

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Feb 9Liked by David B. Williams

Is this why Woodland Park Ave N is so freakishly wide?

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Excellent piece, David. I bought the book. A colleague pointed out the turnback on NE 55th, right across from my barber. I'm a streetcar fan from growing up in LA, and rode a special excursion of the last five MTA [originally LA Transit] lines the last week of March 1963: J, P, R, S, and V. All replaced with belching GM "Silverliner" buses.

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