Monday, July 27, 2015

Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon in February 2009

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

(NOTE: This website is NOT affiliated with the Great Train Expo; see www.greattrainexpo.com for current info)

The Great Train Expo was held at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center in Portland, Oregon on February 14-15, 2009. I only attended on the 14th and I only took a few pictures at this show, but I did get a lot of video. The layouts shown were not the only ones at the show.

Vendors

IMG_5948 Lionel 381E Locomotive & State Set Coach for sale at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

This Lionel 381E locomotive & "State Set" coach were being offered by one of the vendors.

IMG_5947 Lionel State Set Coach for sale at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

The surprisingly detailed interior of the State Set coach has working doors and fixtures in the restrooms that would be invisible with the roof on.

IMG_5951 Interior of Lionel State Set Coach for sale at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

The engine and 4-car State Set were priced at $2,250.

Beaverton Modular Railroad Club

IMG_5895 Polar Express on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

An HO-Scale Polar Express was on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's layout.

IMG_5896 Polar Express on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

The locomotive is actually a 2-8-4 Berkshire, just like in the movie.

IMG_5897 Polar Express on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

There was also a hobo on the roof.

IMG_5936 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

Scratchbuilt HO-Scale models of TriMet's new Westside Express Service (WES) Diesel Multiple Unit and trailer by Colorado Railcar were also on the layout.

IMG_5937 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

This was only 2 weeks after the real service opened.

IMG_5938 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

They're probably the first WES models anywhere.

NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Gauge Hi-Rail Modular Group

IMG_5910 CB&Q 2-10-4 #6314 on the NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Scale Hi-Rail Modular Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 2-10-4 #6314 was parked on the NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Gauge Hi-Rail Modular Group Layout.

IMG_5911 Pennsylvania GG1 #4876 on the NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Gauge Hi-Rail Modular Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 #4876 was running on the NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Gauge Hi-Rail Modular Group Layout.

IMG_5913 London Module on the NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Gauge Hi-Rail Modular Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

This module on the NMRA PNR 4th Division O-Gauge Hi-Rail Modular Group Layout has an early London theme, complete with double-decker buses.

Rose City Garden Railway Society

IMG_5917 Operating Bascule Bridge on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's G-Gauge Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

The large double-track operating bascule bridge on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's layout in the raised position.

IMG_5924 Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 #3917 on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's G-Gauge Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

Two-Tone Grey Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger #3977 was on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's layout.

IMG_5925 Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 #3977 on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's G-Gauge Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

Here is another view of Union Pacific Challenger #3977 on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's layout.

IMG_5926 Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 #3977 on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's G-Gauge Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

Here is another view of Union Pacific Challenger #3977 on the Rose City Garden Railway Society's layout.

Southern Oregon Z

IMG_5899 Z-Scale Pacific Electric 2-6-0 & Caboose on the Southern Oregon Z Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

A Z-Scale Pacific Electric 2-6-0 and caboose were on the Southern Oregon Z layout.

IMG_5905 Z-Scale Fire Lookout & Cabin on the Southern Oregon Z Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009

This intricate and detailed Z-Scale mountaintop fire lookout and cabin are on the Southern Oregon Z layout.

The video below shows footage from these layouts, plus the Cascade Z Modelers and Portland Area N-Trak.

Great Train Expo in Portand, Oregon on February 14, 2009

TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES): Grand Opening

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

IMG_5031 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1003 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
Advertisement on DMU #1003 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

The official start of WES service was Monday, February 2, 2009.

IMG_5395 TriMet Westside Express Service Banner at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Banner at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

On the previous Friday, January 30, there was a special Grand Opening celebration.

IMG_5065 Banner at TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Banner at the Tualatin Station on January 15, 2009

Free rides were offered through the middle of the day at all five WES stations.

IMG_5376 TriMet Westside Express Service Banner at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Banner at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

On previous days, rides during the test runs had been available by invitation.

IMG_5377 Logo on TriMet Westside Express Service Banner at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
Logo on WES Banner in Tigard on January 30, 2009

The invitations for the test runs were mainly offered to the media and VIPs, so this was the general public’s first look at the new trains.

IMG_5378 TriMet Westside Express Service Banner at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Banner at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

A variety of signage was used leading up to the WES Grand Opening.

IMG_5374 TriMet Westside Express Service Grand Opening Ticket on January 30, 2009
WES Grand Opening Ticket on January 30, 2009

Here is an example of the tickets being handed out for the free rides. This is one of two I got at the Tigard Transit Center. These tickets were only good at the station they were received at, and were only good for a one-way trip. To get back, TriMet was running shuttle buses, or one could get in line for another ticket.

IMG_5387 TriMet Westside Express Service Cake at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Cake at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

Free slices of this WES cake were being offered at the Tigard Transit Center.

IMG_5388 TriMet Westside Express Service Cake at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Cake at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The following video shows WES trains at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009.

TriMet Westside Express Service at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009.

IMG_5936 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009
WES Models at Great Train Expo in Portland, February 14, 2009

I saw these scratchbuilt HO-Scale WES models, undoubtedly the first anywhere, on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's layout at the 2009 Great Train Expo in Portland on February 14, 2009.

IMG_5937 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009
WES Models at Great Train Expo in Portland, February 14, 2009

The club was invited to display at some of the events for the WES opening, so they built these models.

IMG_5938 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs on the Beaverton Modular Railroad Club's HO-Scale Layout at the Great Train Expo in Portland, Oregon on February 14, 2009
WES Models at Great Train Expo in Portland, February 14, 2009

TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES): Beaverton Transit Center

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

IMG_5386 Beaverton Transit Center in Beaverton, Oregon on January 30, 2009
Beaverton Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The Beaverton Transit Center at 4050 SW Lombard Avenue at the north end of the WES line connects to the MAX light rail Blue and Red Lines and numerous TriMet bus lines and features 38 bike lockers and 48 bike rack spaces, but no Park & Ride lot.

IMG_5385 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 at the Beaverton Transit Center in Beaverton, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Train at the Beaverton Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The WES line separates from the freight rail line south of the platform, so no freight trains pass the Beaverton platform and no gauntlet track is needed.

Continue to Grand Opening

TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES): Hall/Nimbus Station

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

I don't have any pictures of the Hall/Nimbus Station at 8505 SW Cascade Avenue, behind Cascade Plaza in Beaverton, adjacent to SW Hall Boulevard near its intersection with SW Nimbus Avenue, as is is the smallest and has the least visual interest of the five stations. It is a raised platform like the others on the east side of the track with two bus-stop-style shelters and the "interactivator" on it. The station uses a gauntlet track like at the Tualatin station to allow for the passage of freight trains. The station connects to three TriMet bus lines and features 10 bike lockers and 16 bike rack spaces and a 50-space Park & Ride lot that is more of an alley behind Cascade Plaza with diagonal parking. Full-length TriMet buses cannot directly access the WES station as they cannot negotiate the tight exit from the parking lot. (I was on one that tried on January 30th.)

Continue to Beaverton Transit Center

TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES): Tigard Transit Center

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

IMG_5394 Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The Tigard Transit Center at 8960 SW Commercial Street features a 100-space Park & Ride lot, 4 bike lockers and 14 bike rack spaces and connects to five TriMet bus lines.

IMG_5375 TriMet Westside Express Service Platform at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Platform at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The Tigard platform is roughly the midpoint of the line and is where WES trains are scheduled to pass, and thus the platform is between two tracks.

IMG_5390 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Train at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The track on the east side of the platform is a gauntlet track like at Tualatin to allow for the passage of freight trains.

IMG_5399 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs #1003 & #1001 at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Trains at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

The track on the west side of the platform is a regular track for WES trains only.

IMG_5400 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs #1003 & #1001 at the Tigard Transit Center in Tigard, Oregon on January 30, 2009
WES Trains at the Tigard Transit Center on January 30, 2009

Northbound WES trains use the east side of the platform while southbound WES trains use the west side of the platform.

Continue to Hall/Nimbus Station

TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES): Tualatin Station

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

IMG_5077 TriMet Westside Express Service Station Sign in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station Sign in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

The Tualatin Station is located at 18955 SW Boones Ferry Road.

IMG_5076 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

It has the most sizable and visually-imposing platform on the WES line.

IMG_5072 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

Nearly the entire platform is covered by a peaked roof.

IMG_5073 TriMet Westside Express Service Station Clock in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station Clock in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

IMG_5074 TriMet Westside Express Service Station Clock in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station Clock in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

The roof is topped by a 4-sided clock tower with clocks by Electric Time.

IMG_5070 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

IMG_5067 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

The Tualatin Station features a 154-space Park & Ride lot, 6 bike lockers and 24 covered bike rack spaces.

IMG_5071 TriMet Westside Express Service Station Sign in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station Sign in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

IMG_5075 TriMet Westside Express Service Station Sign in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Station Sign in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

The station connects with TriMet's #76 bus line.

IMG_5069 Gauntlet Track at TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Gauntlet Track in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

The WES trains and the freight trains have to share the same track here.

IMG_5068 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Gauntlet Track in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

Because of this, a gauntlet track is used. 

IMG_5066 Gauntlet Track at TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Gauntlet Track in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

This lets the WES trains get closer to the platform while still giving freight trains the clearance they need.

IMG_5061 Southern Pacific over Oregon Electric in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trestle Crossing in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

Just north of the Tualatin Station the WES line passes Tualatin Community Park and passes underneath another rail line. The rail line that crosses over the WES line was originally built in 1886 as the narrow-gauge Portland & Willamette Valley Railway Company between downtown Portland and Dundee, through Lake Oswego and Newberg. Within a few years it was taken over by the Southern Pacific Railroad and standard-gauged, and between 1914 and 1929 the line was used by Southern Pacific's "Red Electric" interurbans, a competitor of the Oregon Electric Railway that originally operated the line WES now runs on, carrying passengers between Portland and Corvallis.

IMG_5060 Southern Pacific over Oregon Electric in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trestle Crossing in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

These lines remained competitors into the 1990s, with the Oregon Electric having become part of Burlington Northern Santa Fe while the Southern Pacific became part of Union Pacific. Today, both are operated by the Portland & Western Railroad.

IMG_5056 Oregon Electric Tualatin River Bridge in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Tualatin River Bridge in Tualatin, Oregon on January 15, 2009

At the north end of Tualatin Community Park, the WES line crosses the Tualatin River on this truss bridge. This truss span may date from the original construction of this line as the Oregon Electric Railway in 1906. The long north approach of this bridge was rebuilt to accommodate WES trains, but the main span and short south approach remain.

The following video shows a WES train crossing this bridge during a demonstration trip on January 21, 2009.

WES Train at Tualatin River Bridge on January 21, 2009.

Continue to Tigard Transit Center

TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES): Wilsonville Station

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

IMG_5027 TriMet Westside Express Service Station Sign in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
WES Station Sign at Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009

The Wilsonville station at 9699 SW Barber Street is the southern end of the line.

IMG_5026 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
WES Station Platform at Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009

This station features a 400-space Park & Ride lot, by far the largest of all the WES stations, 48 bike lockers, and connections to Wilsonville's SMART Transit, Canby's CAT and Salem's Cherriots.

IMG_5025 TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
WES tracks at Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009

WES has its own track to the platform here, which ends at the end of the platform. Freight trains use the adjacent through track.

IMG_5021 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
WES Maintenance Facility on January 14, 2009

IMG_5017 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
WES Maintenance Facility on January 14, 2009

IMG_5016 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
WES Maintenance Facility on January 14, 2009

IMG_5036 TriMet Westside Express Service DMUs in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
WES Maintenance Facility on January 15, 2009

Wilsonville is also the site of the WES maintenance facility, which can be easily viewed from the Wilsonville platform.

IMG_5050 Interactivator at the TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Wilsonville Interactivator on January 15, 2009

There is one of these sculptures of bronze and stainless steel at each of the WES stations. They are called "Interactivators" and this one is the "Wilsonville Interactivator." They were created by Frank Boyden and Brad Rule. The vehicle and the 16 heads can be moved around in the tracks in the tabletop. The five "interactivators" are all similar but are slightly different. Each has a different color scheme and depicts a different animal on the top of the vehicle, and the heads, while representing the same "cast of characters," are slightly different at each station. These photos of the "Wilsonville Interactivator" were taken on January 15, 2009, the first day it was uncovered at the Wilsonville platform.

IMG_5055 Interactivator at the TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Wilsonville Interactivator on January 15, 2009

The following table lists the colors and animals at each of the five "Interactivators."

Station Animals

Color

Wilsonville Fish Red
Tualatin Crawfish Orange
Tigard Turtles Green
Hall/Nimbus Frogs Blue
Beaverton Beavers Yellow

IMG_5053 Interactivator at the TriMet Westside Express Service Station in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Wilsonville Interactivator on January 15, 2009

The following is engraved on each interactivator:

THIS SCULPTURE, A THEATER OF SORTS, EXPLORES HUMAN INTERACTIONS FOUND IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, SUCH AS THIS TRAIN LINE. THE CAST OF CHARACTERS EXPRESSES VARIOUS TRAITS, GESTURES, STATES OF MIND, EMOTIONS, FEELINGS AND FANTASIES. YOU DECIDE WHO GOES WHERE AND WHAT PATH THEY WILL TAKE. BY ACTIVATING, YOU WILL CREATE NEW SCENARIOS BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS. USE YOUR IMAGINATION, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND HAVE FUN.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE KISSER
THE SLEEPER
THE LAUGHER
THE SCOWLER
THE GOOFBALL
UNCLE SKULKY
THE BLIND HEAD
THE DOUBLE HEAD

THE FACELESS MASK
THE VEGETABLE HEAD
THE UPSIDE DOWN HEAD
THE MIRROR OF ILLUSION
THE FOUND OBJECT HEAD
THE CARRIER OF THE STONE
THE HISTORICAL HEAD MASK
THE HEAD WITH ANIMAL QUALITIES

Continue to Tualatin Station

TriMet's Westside Express Service (WES)

I originally posted this on my old website on March 26, 2009.

WES

On February 2, 2009, the transit system in Portland, Oregon called TriMet, or the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, began operation of a new commuter rail service called WES, or Westside Express Service, between the suburbs of Wilsonville and Beaverton on the Portland & Western Railroad. WES operates only on weekdays from 5:20 to 10:00 AM and from 3:30 to 8:00 PM, with a train departing in each direction approximately every 30 minutes. A trip between Wilsonville and Beaverton takes 27 minutes. The train crew consists of an engineer and a conductor, both of whom are Portland & Western employees.

The railroad line that WES runs on consists of portions of two lines that were once competitors. The portion from Wilsonville to Tigard was originally built in 1906 as the Oregon Electric Railway, an electric interurban railroad that began operation between Portland and Salem on New Year's Day in 1908. The Oregon Electric eventually reached Eugene, with branches to Banks, Forest Grove, Woodburn and Corvallis. The Oregon Electric's passenger service lasted until 1933. Electric freight service continued until 1945 when diesel locomotives took over. The portion of the line from Tigard to Beaverton was part of Southern Pacific's system and was used by their "Red Electric" interurbans, which carried passengers between Portland and Corvallis from 1914 to 1929 as competition to the Oregon Electric Railway. These lines remained competitors into the 1990s, with the Oregon Electric having become part of Burlington Northern Santa Fe while the Southern Pacific became part of Union Pacific. Today, both are operated by the Portland & Western Railroad.

IMG_5019 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1002 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

WES operates with Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) built by Colorado Railcar Manufacturing of Fort Lupton, Colorado.

IMG_5023 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1002 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

There are three powered units and one unpowered trailer.

IMG_5022 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1002 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

The powered units seat 74 people each and have a top speed of 60 miles per hour. The unpowered trailer seats 80.

IMG_5037 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 & DMU #1002 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

Each WES car features two bicycle hooks and free wireless internet access.

IMG_5049 TriMet Westside Express Service Trailer #2001 & DMU #1002 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 & DMU #1002 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

The first of them arrived in June, 2008. WES was originally scheduled to begin operation in the fall of 2008, but delays in delivery of the cars caused the opening to be pushed back to February 2, 2009, with the trains being tested throughout the fall and winter of 2008. Colorado Railcar's financial difficulties caused the company to shut down in December of 2008.

IMG_5048 TriMet Westside Express ServiceTrailer #2001 & DMU #1002 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 & DMU #1002 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

TriMet's WES is one of only two commuter systems to use Colorado Railcar DMUs, and the other, Florida's Tri-Rail, uses Bi-level versions, making TriMet's four single-level cars the only ones of their kind.

IMG_5039 TriMet Westside Express Service Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 & DMU #1001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

WES typically operates with two of the powered units operating separately, with the third powered unit operating with the unpowered trailer, as shown here.

IMG_5044 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1001 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
DMU #1001 & Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

Below are some pictures of each of the WES cars.

IMG_5045 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
DMU #1001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5043 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
DMU #1001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5046 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
DMU #1001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5041 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
DMU #1001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5020 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1002 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

IMG_5024 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1002 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1002 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

IMG_5014 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1003 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1003 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

IMG_5015 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1003 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1003 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

IMG_5018 TriMet Westside Express Service DMU #1003 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 14, 2009
DMU #1003 in Wilsonville on January 14, 2009

IMG_5038 TriMet Westside Express Service Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5040 TriMet Westside Express Service Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5042 TriMet Westside Express Service Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

IMG_5047 TriMet Westside Express Service Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville, Oregon on January 15, 2009
Trailer #2001 in Wilsonville on January 15, 2009

These following views show the interior of a WES train.

IMG_5382 Interior of TriMet Westside Express Service Train on January 30, 2009
Interior of a WES train on January 30, 2009

IMG_5383 Interior of TriMet Westside Express Service Train on January 30, 2009
Interior of a WES train on January 30, 2009

Related Links:
TriMet: Washington County Commuter Rail
TriMet: WES Commuter Rail Service
Westside Express Service (WES) from Rose City & NorthWestern
Colorado Railcar DMU Roster
First railcars arrive for west-side commuter line (Oregonian, June 19, 2009)
Westside Express Service faces delays (Oregonian, July 29, 2008)
TriMet's new Westside Express Service prepared to take to the rails this fall (Oregonian, August 21, 2008)
TriMet delays opening of Westside commuter rail line until February (Oregonian, October 1, 2008)
TriMet's Westside Express Service delayed (Oregonian, October 9, 2008)
Westside Express deal cost TriMet millions (Oregonian, December 14, 2008)
Company behind TriMet WES railcars fails (Oregonian, December 30, 2008)
Ready to ride? On board the westside commuter rail (Oregonian, January 21, 2009)
WES train rolls out for inaugural run (Oregonian, January 21, 2009)
Electrical problems on Westside Express Service sidelines trains (Oregonian, February 20, 2009)
WES service needs bus help for several more days (Oregonian, February 23, 2009)

The next posts will take a look at the five stations on the WES line:

Wilsonville Station
Tualatin Station
Tigard Transit Center
Hall/Nimbus Station
Beaverton Transit Center

Continue to Wilsonville Station