The MAX slows to stop on SW Morrison at Pioneer Courthouse Square

The MAX train will not completely stop until its eastern end, the one that you can see here, has cleared the sidewalk where these two men walk. I took a whole series of photos as the train crossed the intersection at SW 6th Avenue and SW Morrison Street. It didn't take me too long to decide to just post this one--I like the motion, the numbers of people visible on the sidewalk, the way you can see some of the Macy's store beyond the end of the train as it heads west. Did you notice Santa sitting there on the brick wall? The blurry pedestrians who have crossed at the corner?

SW Morrison, downtown Portland, all lit up for the holidays

People waiting to cross the SW 10th as the MAX to Beaverton Transit Center pulls to a stop on SW Morrison, across the street form the Galleria, one of Portland's downtown terra cotta facade buildings. I took this photo on December 16, looking east, not too long after the Zipcar Christmas party where I left an unwrapped toy and spun the wheel for driving time--won $10--hooray. I enjoyed a thorough chat with a nice young Zipcar man whose name escapes me, all about the various sizes of nearby vehicles and whether or not we might be able to fit Mama's wheelchair into them.


Looking the same direction as the next MAX train approaches. It's easy to see why this stretch is one of my favorite holiday sights in Portland.


The lights on the trees continue to the west for another block.

Interesting facts in a reverse timeline, about the Galleria:
About $7,000,000 was spent on improvements in 2003.
In 1976, the Galleria won "Award of Merit" award from the AIA, Portland Chapter.
In 1978, the Galleria won the "First Honor Award" from the Downtown Development Award.
The upper floors were converted from retail space to offices during the mid-1980s.
Initially opened as the Olds, Wortman and King Department Store.
Naito Properties acquired the completely vacant structure in 1972.
The structure sits on top of a full-block site.
The building has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since February 20, 1991.
The local supervising architect was A. E. Doyle.
The third floor sky-bridge connects with the adjacent parking garage.
The Galleria was the first department store in the Northwest to take up an entire block.
It was erected in 1910. The interior was notable for a full interior atrium and grand staircase.

West-bound MAX goes off its tracks on Monday, April 20

From the local FOX affiliate: A westbound train that derailed at Southwest 11th Avenue and Morrison Street closed the MAX line for hours Monday.

Officials said the train wasn't involved in a collision and no one was injured in the derailment. They said an out-of-alignment switch caused the train's front wheels to lift slightly off the track, halting it.

Service was interrupted from the Rose Quarter to PGE Park and commuters were shuttled between locations using buses.

By 9 p.m., MAX trains were moving again in both directions through downtown Portland.

Crews removed the train from the track and performed a thorough inspection before resuming service, according to TriMet spokeswoman Bekki Witt.

At 4:30 p.m. when I got the e-mail from TriMet at work about the derailed MAX train, I knew my 18 bus would be making a detour, especially when I read that the southbound streetcar was not running either. We always turn south on SW 11th and cross Morrison on our way to Taylor where we turn west. As we made our way across downtown, our driver told me he had already made the route once, so we would be turning onto SW 13th instead of SW 11th and then onto SW Taylor, like always.

I took photos from the 18 as we made our way.

There's the southbound streetcar, with its sign reading "Please Go Around."


The yellow streetcar sign now says, "Streetcar disabled."


The two-car train blocks all of SW 11th which is a southbound, one-way street. The train itself is on SW Morrison.


Looking east on SW Morrison, there's the derailed MAX train. It's evident that it's off the tracks, sort of crooked to the left. See the shuttle bus in the distance?


Here's a quick shot of some of the folks who usually ride the MAX from work. I think this is SW Taylor, the street where they're walking.


That's an eastbound shuttle headed towards the Rose Quarter, eventually. It's turn left off SW 18th onto SW Salmon. My 18 turns right at the intersection. We pass the King's Hill MAX stop before coming to the PGE Park stops, one eastbound, one westbound, separated by a triangle-shaped block and the building that sits on it.


Here's a row of buses standing, waiting exactly where the MAX train usually waits for passengers to board, at the PGE MAX westbound stop.


Alternative transportation?


Another shot of commuters boarding a shuttle bus for the trip from PGE Park to the Rose Quarter. I wonder if they stop at all sorts of bus stops along the way, since the MAX stops here and there regularly.

Seen on the streets of Portland, No. 5

A bicyclist rides north on SW 10th Avenue at its intersection with SW Morrison Street. I like her color choices and their coordination--even her bicycle is pink. As a mother, though, I wish she wore a helmet.

I took this photo on October 25, 2008. I found the neatest pair of sunglasses in Ray’s Ragtime on my one and only visit. Their Web site is not worth looking at, so I didn't include a link. However, the store itself is stuffed with all sorts of interesting stuff. The windows are a treat, too. I need to get some photos of them.