Ballard's Lil' Beaver, a restored 1940 EMD SW-1 Diesel moves several empty hopper cars that move materials for the Salmon Bay Gravel Company. The Ballard Terminal Railroad was formed in 1997 after the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad abandoned this spur. The Ballard Terminal Railroad runs on three miles of track from Shilshole through the edge of the Ballard neighborhood's business district on the north edge of Salmon Bay to the Fremont neighborhood. The railroad serves three companies - Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel, Western Pioneer Fishing and the Olson Furniture Company. The three companies were the primary investors in starting up the railroad. The Lil' Beaver takes its name and color scheme from the Ballard High School mascot. Bryant Johnson, in the vest, is accompanied by his boss Jim.
