VC Tower continues to stand watch over the south end of Portland, Ore. Union Station, although it was closed as a manned interlocking more than 10 years ago. Union Pacific closed it Nov. 5, 1997, replacing it with a CTC signal box that is visible next to the structure.

In the background, two Amtrak trains await the dispatcher's highball. On the left, the "Empire Builder" Portland section will cross the Steel Bridge and turn on the East Portland wye for its return trip to Chicago. On the right, the "Coast Starlight" loads passengers before resuming its southward trek from Seattle to Los Angeles.

TriMet, the Portland-area transit agency, has rehabbed VC Tower for its light rail system. It serves as a control point for trains moving to and from the Steel Bridge on the new alignment between Portland Union Station and Portland State University along the downtown Transit Mall.

Photographed by Thomas McCann, 1998.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, January 9, 2007.
Railroad: Amtrak.

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