Seatle Times - Pacific Northwest section
Author: Dick Seelye
Date: 07-22-2007 - 15:03
Then & Now, photos and narrative by Paul Dorpat
Reconstruction of the N 34th & Fremont Avenue "grand union" in 1923
"Grand unions" are crossings of two double tracks, and have tracks for eight turning movements. Most of the turns were "deadhead movements" to and from the nearby carbarn. Building still there.
16 diamonds, 8 sets of facing points, 8 sets of trailing points
And overhead trolley wire to match, admittedly only single wire.
Wonder if there are any grand unions in service in the world? There are many under asphalt, partially cut up by underground utility construction.
(One of the earliest portions of the Seattle street railway line reportedly used two wire OCS, similar to what we use for trolley coaches today. San Francisco and Seattle, and more to the East.)