Palouse Country

[funnelfan]

Some shots from the western edge of the Palouse Country of eastern Washington.

1. Sunrise at Ayer.

2. UP is retiring hordes of B23-7's and B30-7's, but their keeping the older EMD Geeps BTW. Here is one parked at Ayer reportedly going to Watco. another one was parked at Trentwood supposedly going to Western Rail of Spokane.

3. The young hawks in this nest are not so young anymore, and are probably days away from being booted out onto their own.

4. The road from Washtucna to Lyons Ferry would be the perfect place to test out a new sports car. I can't think of another paved road that is more corkscrew than this highway. In case you missed a turn, the road passes out of this valley in the small cut directly above the roadsign in the foreground.

[funnelfan]

5. Here a rabbit tries to blend in, but it ain't doing him much good. I don't know what it is, but the rabbit population literally exploded this year. These things are everywhere in masse!

6. I did finally manage to catch the elusive WATCO operation, Palouse River Railroad in operation out of Hooper Jct, WA.

7. Here is the train leaving Hooper. I talked to the roving conductor that was following the train looking for fires. When I mentioned about photographing the train climbing out of Hooper, he said "Take as many photos as you want, just don't stand on the tracks".

8. The deer population seems to be doing well also.

[funnelfan]

9-12. More views of the Watco between Hooper and LaCrosse, WA.

[funnelfan]

13-16. More views around LaCrosse.

[funnelfan]

17. Southbound MEDHK in the Palouse River Canyon.

18. The wheat harvest is on in Palouse Country.

19. A view down the Palouse River Canyon, never did see or hear a rattlesnake all day.

20. Another view of a combine at work. Flatland farmers would probably feel out of place over here.

[funnelfan]

21. Another MEDHK meets a pickup rail train at Hooper Junction.

22. A QEDHK passes by the Palouse Falls State Park.

23. A deer looking at something that looks like a very large hawk perched on a rock ledge above.

24. MEDHK passing between tunnels in the Palouse River Canyon.

[funnelfan]

25. A M-LAUPAS leaves Fishtrap Siding after a meet.

26. How's this for a overpowered baretable seen cresting the Fishtrap Grade.

27. Where the original Mullan Road crossed the SP&S and Hwy 126 west of Hooper, WA.

[Silver Banquet]

Fantastic shots Ted! I especially love the shots of the Watco branchline action. Technically, though, I think you caught the Blue Mountain Railroad instead of the PCC, although with all the strange haulage and trackage rights over there it can be hard to tell.

[Bob]

> I don't know what it is, but the rabbit population literally
> exploded this year. These things are everywhere...

Yeah, well they breed like rabbits...

Don't worry, those young hawks you saw will soon be thinning the herd.

[SP&SFan]

Originally Posted by funnelfan

6. I did finally manage to catch the elusive WATCO operation, Palouse River Railroad in operation out of Hooper Jct, WA.

Ted,

Okay, what is their normal schedule.. May I ask what day and time you were at Hooper to catch the train leaving town??

Thanks,
SP&SFan