Trinidad in the Morning

[funnelfan]

Recently I found myself just getting up in the early morning hours, and with plenty of time to kill. So I fulfilled a long standing goal of mine to photograph trains around Trinidad, WA in the early morning hours. I headed west on I-90 in the early morning hours arriving at Trinidad around 4 in the morning. It was a great morning with a steady stream of trains until it came to a adbrupt end with a empty grain train, when MOW forces took over the mainline. I followed the grain empty, but it soon got stuck waiting on a work window, so I just went home.

1. A V-LPCTAC dropping down to the Columbia River at night.

2. Amtrak #7 before sunrise.

3. Following awhile behind Amtrak was a Z-CHCSSE.

4. A wider view.

[funnelfan]

5-8. A V-TACLPC that sat at Albus for a while on the Z train (it was also delayed at Magala by #7). It had a good looking consist, which I caught at both Trinidad and West Quincy. I've long wanted the shot at West Quincy, and finally got it!

[funnelfan]

9. Morning light at the loop itself isn't that great. The loop is better in mid-day through late-day light. None-the-less, I did catch a baretable train there.

10 Next up was a empty grain train that was just cruising right up the hill with the three units. I could hear the MOW taking over the mainline by this time, so I decided to not hang out through the mid-day lull and follow the grain empty east.

11. The track is a bit undulating between Ephrata and Wilson Creek, as this view at Stratford shows.

12. With my grain empty stuck for a work window, I found this little critter on a rock. That stinger looks a bit dangerous.

[GMDX70]

Very nice set Ted! I like image #1 of the train streaking in the dark. Hopefully the sun angles will be alright in late October when I visit the area.

GMDX70

[akprodr]

Thanks for the pictures!

While I love the scenery in that part of the world, I'm sure its way too hot for me. It was 75 degrees here today and I'm covered with sweat!

[Youngwarrior]

That is an area I would love to shoot. Maybe sometime I will. Thanks for the pictures.

[Trackside]

Referring to #1; I've never seen someone do a night shot at that location. I like it! Was there any moon?

[funnelfan]

The moon was about 2 days off from being a full moon, and it was lighting the area pretty well.

[CPRchris]

Nice stuff Ted ! In picture 9, whats with the tie arrangement ? It looks like 1 wooden tie with a gauge bar with 3 concrete ties inbetween ?? On the outside of the rail it looks like gauge bars heading out, then under to the opposite side to keep the rail from stretching.

[funnelfan]

The loop is awfully sharp, and the wooden ties allow rail braces to be installed to keep the track in gauge.