Here are some newer photos of Los Angeles' Eastside Gold Line as it nears opening (also see construction photos from early 2008).
This aerial view of the bridge from Union Station over the 101 freeway is from Metro's headquarters building (8/08).
A test train returns over that freeway bridge to the Gold Line platform at Union Station (7/09).
Another view of that bridge, from Aliso Street on the south side of the freeway (12/08).
Two test trains are in the Little Tokyo station at First and Alameda.
A three-car eastbound test train crosses the First Street bridge. Note the bridge tower has been moved as part of its widening (9/09).
A one-car westbound test train crosses the bridge (9/09).
A test train passes the new school LAUSD built next to the Eastside Gold Line at Mission (9/09).
An older Siemens test car pauses in the station (with its lights briefly showing it to be westbound) before heading east into the tunnel under Boyle Heights (9/09).
An eastbound test train rounds the corner of First onto Indiana (9/09).
This catenary pole on Third Street includes weights to keep the overhead in tension (12/08).
This test train is about to leave the end-of-the-line station at Atlantic (9/09).
Here's the map of the 6 mile long Eastside Gold Line.
Downtown Portland is the hub of three 
Nordstrom's success in downtown Portland contrasts with the trend to suburban malls in other cities.
During peak periods 16 trains per hour per direction pass through the one-way couplet on Morrison and Yamhill Streets.
This sidewalk cafe, very compatible with quiet light rail trains passing, complements downtown (7/00; other photos 7/03).
Trains passing through the Saturday Market area demonstrate the pedestrian-oriented ambiance Portland is known for.
Old Town / Chinatown is the last stop before the Gresham, Airport, and Interstate lines cross the Steel Bridge east over the Willamette River.
Riders head home after Fourth of July fireworks over the Willamette River in downtown Portland.
Portland's first line from downtown east to Gresham 
Portland's original 15-mile 
After passing Lloyd Center its right-of-way is on the north side of the Banfield Freeway (right of the barrier), here at the station at N.E. 60th Street (10/93).
Beyond the freeway right-of-way it runs in the median of E. Burnside Street. Here we're approaching a typical median split station at 122nd Avenue (7/00).
Here is the far side platform of of that station, also showing the signal-controlled intersection (7/00).
Here are typical median tracks with landscaped borders along E. Burnside Street. The railings in the distance are a pedestrian crossing (7/00).
"Train? What train?" (7/00)
This is the terminus in Gresham, at the end of the original short single-track section (since widened to two tracks), with Mt. Hood in the distance (10/93).
Looking west on S.W. Jefferson Street from S.W. 18th Avenue, leaving downtown Portland, while the line was still under construction. The eastern portal for the tunnel below Washington Park is just past the high bridge (7/96; other photos 7/00).
Tracks pass a pond as it curves away from the freeway toward downtown Beaverton. The first major expansion of Portland MAX, the Westside line to Hillsboro opened in 1998.
The station at Orenco Station, one of the new housing developments planned around this line.
Mixed-use and cottage houses are located close to the station in the New Urbanist development of 
This is a good example of landscaped parkways (the strip between the sidewalk and street) in limited space on S.E. Washington Street in Hillsboro, after the tracks transition from private right-of-way to street median.
Note the trees on this station platform in Hillsboro on S.E. Washington Street.
The terminus in Hillsboro shows an older high-floor car (center) and newer low-floor cars.
Portland's Interstate Avenue was the main road north to the Columbia River and Washington before I-5 was built. In decline, it's been brought back with the 2004 opening of 
The original four-lane boulevard became median tracks and bicycle lanes (looking north from Overlook Blvd.)
These 7/03 late-construction photos were before parkway landscaping was complete.
This is a standard signal-controlled intersection by Ockley Green Middle School at Ainsworth Street, looking north. Chains discourage mid-block crossing.
The 4,000-foot Vanport Bridge crosses a southern slough of the Columbia River.
The current terminus is at Expo Center on the edge of the Columbia River. A new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River may take tracks north to Vancouver, Washington.
This zig-zag pedestrian crossing directs people to look first left, then right for safety with on-coming trains.
Much of the Los Angeles 
After the Aviation station (two miles from LAX, connected only by airport shuttle bus) the line curves south of the freeway (03/03).
Here is the aerial guideway and station along Nash Street at Mariposa Avenue in El Segundo (03/03).
Landscaping and path beneath the aerial structure (03/03).
Passing Mattel's headquarters and other office buildings at Grand Avenue in El Segundo (03/03).
Entrance to the aerial station at El Segundo Boulevard (03/03).
A new light rail bridge and older BNSF Railroad truss bridge diagonally cross the intersection of Aviation Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue (04/03).
The current terminus is at Marine Avenue (04/03). It's a long way up to that platform!
Future extensions south, north to LAX, and east to Norwalk Metrolink are in Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan. More at 
The 20-mile Green Line (