Western Railroad Discussion > Yakima Canyon Scenery

This morning I followed an eastbound merchandise train through the Yakima Canyon between Ellensburg and Yakima, WA. At Pomona, WA just east of the canyon it met a westbound MOW on flatcars train headed for Ellensburg behind a pair of BNSF SD40-2's. Rare to see a westbound of any size in the Canyon. The local with it's small train just isn't the same.

1) H-EVEPAS eastbound through Roza, WA on the ex-NP 7-22-17.
2) Westbound MOW train with SD40-2's 1866/1828 has left Pomona and is headed for Ellensburg, WA.
3) Scenic is an understatement for the Yakima Canyon. BNSF 1866 West is west of Wymer, WA deep in the Yakima Canyon.

Thanks for looking!

Brian Ambrose
Renton, WA

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Very NICE scenic shots all three. Like the reflection on the first shot.

Larry

NICE!  Thanks for sharing Brian.

SouthWest RailCams
CA, NM, CO, TX, AZ
https://SouthWestRailCams.com

Nice photos but what was is really nice about the first photo is that you saw an eastbound that wasn't an empty grain train but what appears to a loaded lumber train. Late last September 2016 I photographed Yakima Canyon for two days, one with sun and one day with clouds, all I saw was empty grain trains. Now I like grain trains but to see a loaded general freight on this very scenic line that is easy to photograph is great.

I just love your first photo -- the shapes of the
beautiful scenery, and that beautiful reflection of
the locomotives and the first car in the stream next
to the tracks. Calendar material for sure, and a
superb IOTD candidate, too!

Your second image is gorgeous, with the landscape
rolling away into the beautiful distance. The
composition in that one is superb -- I just wanted
to gaze at it for a long, long time, and let my cramped
spirit stretch its wings in the beautiful and spacious
landscape that stretches away into the distance in a
very beautiful and restful and inviting way. And that
train snakes through your image in a perfect way,
connecting the near with the faraway tree-studded
and beautiful distant landscape. And the train had
two older (second-generation) locomotives for the
power: a Heritage I BNSF locomotive withe the proper
large Santa Fe serif font for the "BNSF", and a nice
Cascade Green BN as the second engine. Now that is
a catch --two SD40-2s in older paint schemes! And
pulling a long train of MOW equipment -- not something
you get to see very day!

Your third photo is nice, too. It shows just how small
a train is when seen from a distance running below large
hills, which are sere now, and are a lovely light yellow
color.

Trains are huge and very impressive, but within Mother
Nature's realm, they are tiny -- mere sketches on the land.

thank you very much for this beautiful series of photos.
These beautifuk photos dewerved poetic comments.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/17 01:05 by Margaret_SP_fan.

Nice shots!

Great photos.

Ronda Thomas

So that was you out chasing I was with family and we drove down the canyon and I was lucky enough to get the work train.

Scott O'Dell

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We were spoiled when they ran both directions! Since the canyon wound all different directions you could follow east and west bounds all day long!

seod Wrote:
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> So that was you out chasing I was with family and
> we drove down the canyon and I was lucky enough to
> get the work train.
>
> Scott O'Dell

I was originally planning to shoot at your location but didn't want to barge in since you were already there. Too bad, I would have liked to meet you Scott! Wish I had stopped, your shot is great.

Brian

Very nice..!!

Three great shots. Well done!