Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF Oregon Trunk (April 2025-Part 2)

Transiting the long way to Biggs Jct from South Portland via UP Cascade and the Trunk, and got lucky to catch a SB almost immediately after arriving.
 
1454 to 1524 - 30min chase - starting at the middle of the north end of the canyon (HWY 216 Bridge) and chasing south to the end-of-the-road (I was surprised by the gate - or I would have continued the chase).    I have never caught anything south of that 216 bridge before - so I was not certain of the best spots.    The road is paved from 216 south, past Maupin (until about the last 2 miles before the gate) - so chasing was easier than on the northern end where it is 17 miles of gravel.    However, track speed was faster than I could get down the road at times - due to the general non-railfanning public - but, still had a good chase.   And, for every shot that I stopped for - the crew would sound the whistle and ring the bell - each time (nice crew).
 
And, at the end of the day - once I was nearing Biggs Jct for my overnight hotel stay - - heard on the scanner about a NB coming off the trunk, just before sundown - didn't believe it until I saw the bridge lowering (I thought I had missed it) - so caught a 2nd Trunk trainset today - coming out of the sub.
 
So, for the chase on the SB - it was BNSF 7103.   For the sunset NB, BNSF 6839.
 
The first 3 are my favorites from the chase.
 
1-3.   Top 3.
4-14.   The 30min chase from North-to-South.
15-19.  NB approaching Wishram (BNSF 6839).

John
 

---

---

---

Pics 4-6. of the chase.
 

---

---

---

7-9.  More pics from the chase.

---

---

---

10-12.   More pics.

---

---

---

13-14.   More chase.
15.   And, first of several pics for the NB coming out of the trunk.

---

---

---

16-18.  Pics of the NB.

---

---

---

Always good seeing photos of the Trunk. The BLM gate south of Maupin was there my first trip into the canyon 30+ years ago. 

Wonderful, series.

Did a run there myself back in 2019

Posted from iPhone