Scenery on a Grand Scale

[funnelfan]

To me, the Columbia River Gorge is the ultimate Railfan Playground. Sure there are plenty of scenics spots around the world with tracks through them, but none that I know of can equal the scale and diversity of the CRG. From the thick forests and sheer waterfalls on the west end to the desolate rangelands east of the Cascades, one day of railfanning can look like you covered a continent. One thing about having so much scenery to work with, is that you want to include as much as possible in the photo. One goal of this trip was to get down to the Gorge early and try some angles that I've known about, but needed to work with some early morning light. Enjoy!

[funnelfan]

Of course there is sometimes trouble in Paradise. Normally Sunday would be the day to expect a work window free day. Not so last Sunday. There was a work window in and around the Cape Horn Tunnel to replace ties and ballast. The window started after #27 passed and was supposed to last until 15:00. But the window was expanded until just before #28 was due to pass. The Z-PTLCHC and the H-EVEBAR made it through before the window, and westbounds continued to move west being tied down at various places between Bingen and Skamania.

[funnelfan]

The Oregon Trunk was busy that afternoon, with three northbounds and two southbounds. Two of the northbounds were military trains bound for Fort Lewis near Tacoma. Unfortunately the Celio bridge was having troubles, and I roasted in 91 degree heat on a hillside for two hours waiting for the H-EVEBAR to get cleared across the bridge. I wanted to recreate a classic scene near Moody (first pic at start of thread). Unfortunately a pole with a solar power panel kinda ruins the view of the UP tracks below.

[funnelfan]

Coming down the river I noticed two replicate wooden sailing ships going back and forth on the river. I pulled off hwy 14 near Drano Lake to catch the ships sliding by each other. I was quite surprised when I heard cannon fire as the ships passed.

[DelmonteX]

Great photos Ted. Especially like the first one from Maryhill. Did you get these all on one day?

[Trackside]

Very Nice, looks like it was a clear day. You really did get around to some great locations.

[Jon Bentz]

Beeeeautiful!! Very nice work Ted. I'm now lusting to get down there again - it's been years since I shot in the gorge.

[txrailfan]

Very nice work Ted! Thanks for posting...

[funnelfan]

Thanks guys. Yes they were all taken on the same day, and it was a slow day to boot. Without the work window, I would have been able to photograph that much more. It is the reason I wrote that railfanning the CRG in one day can look like you covered many different places.