6 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

I am trying hard to put together a listing of radio frequencies one can monitor by scanner for the properties we will be visiting in the PNW in July. Searching the Internet has proven futile, but perhaps somebody knows of a site that would provide this information.

To get radio frequencies of transit operations is particularly difficult. Our listings of Amtrak frequencies on our website remain the best source of such information out there. One can derive Sounder frequencies from the Cascades page.

But we still need the following:

Portland: TriMet MAX light rail, TriMet WES commuter rail, Portland Streetcar, Willamette Shore Trolley
Seattle & Tacoma: Seattle Streetcar (KC Metro?), Sound Transit Central LINK, Sound Transit Tacoma LINK, Seattle Center Monorail
Vancouver, BC: TransLink SkyTrain Expo, Millennium, Canada Lines, TransLink West Coast Express commuter rail

I don't usually bring my scanner on these trips because of the weight and because many others have theirs. So this project is to benefit you! If anyone knows or can come up with the information, please share!

[AlanB]

Here's a few that I've managed to find. Portland: Willamette Trolley - 460.52500 Tri-Met - 453.3250 Tri-Met Light Rail; 452.8750 Tri-Met Light Rail Yard A second source claims that the freqs are 856.7125, 856.7375, 859.2625 & 859.4625 (the first is supposed to be the primary frequency). This may well be true since the area is switching to a new system according to one report that I read. So it may be best to have both sets ready to go. I can find no info on WES or the streetcar. Could be too new, could be that they use a Tri-Met freq. Seattle: Tacoma Link - 453.0875 South Lake Union - 452.6500 (may also be trolley buses, source is unclear) Vancouver: West Coast Express - 161.47500 (from Mission to maple meadows) - 160.72500 (maple meadows in to Vancouver) Skytrain - 410.2875 CHANNEL 1 - Expo Line repeater 410.0625 CHANNEL 2 - Millennium Line repeater 410.4875 CHANNEL 3 - Maintenance and back-up repeater 408.5125 CHANNEL 5 - Yard control simplex frequency

[KevinKorell]

Thanks, that's a huge start! I'd like to think that KC Metro buses and Sound Transit's Central LINK, at least in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT) where they operate together, are on the same frequency. It would be comforting to know that if one got stuck, the other behind him would stop! I did find a frequency for the DSTT but I am not sure if both agencies use it.

[AlanB]

I've actually found two frequencies for the downtown tunnel, but like you I've been unable to confirm if Link actually uses those frequencies.

[Lightning]

As I previously told Kevin, I know nothing of scanners, but I did send an e-mail to the Seattle Transit Blog and got the below back, if it might be helpful:

BNSF Seattle Terminal Dispatcher (Tukwila to Ballard) - 161,160
BNSF Centralia North Dispatcher (Tukwila to Nisqually) - 161,415
BNSF Scenic Sub Dispatcher (Ballard to Wenatchee) - 161,100
Union Pacific Dispatcher - 160.500

If you come up near Mt. Rainier Scenic RR, we use 160.635. You can usually hear us switching from Tacoma, even on a portable.

ST uses a trunking system and recently changed their frequency. For trains, buses, etc, use this guide.

http://www.radiorefe...s/db/?ctid=2974

The Seattle Monorail has switched to Nextel phones and no longer use 2-way radios.

[KevinKorell]

We ran into something called Talk Groups when we were in Sacramento 3 years ago, and I believe that made it virtually impossible for those with scanners to program their radios to hear activity. I can put what I have so far from the above offerings, and we can take it from there. Perhaps the information may come when riding the rail lines live as the scanners do their jobs and intercept whatever channel they are talking on, provided it falls within the range you set for it.

[KevinKorell]

Based on the information provided by Mark and Alan above, and our own Amtrak frequencies page, I have put together pages for each of the three areas. There is some information missing, which hopefully somebody on the trip can record so it can be updated for the future.

Portland
Seattle/Tacoma
Vancouver