Western Railroad Discussion > Did someone ask for a Soda?

With the few trains that UP runs through the Blue Mountains these days, only three in 7 hours, it's best to make the most of each train. I followed the loaded Soda Ash that passed through Ontario Sunday morning all the way to Oxman before chasing a eastbound MHKPC back to Ontario. I had hoped to pickup on another westbound with daylight left to burn, but no luck. I first photographed the Soda Ash Train snaking along the Snake River at Farewell Bend. Shortly there after it went into the hole at Rock Island to meet a eastbound ITAG4. After the meet I photographed the train exiting the lower Burnt River Canyon on some sharp reverse curves. With the train running away from the sun there wasn't a good spot for photos. I used the dark nose to cast a strong contrast as the train climbed the grade into Durkee, OR.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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With the train only being setup with 3x3x2 locomotives and fresh snow in the hills, I was worried I may not even see the train at the classic old highway overpass shot near Oxman, OR. The train usually rates a 3x4x2 consist in the summer and a 4x5x2 consist in the winter. Just the day before a 3x4x2 soda ash train got a knuckle on this climb when the head consist dropped it's load for a few seconds. The soda ash trains have a very poor record of making this climb and it seems trains stalling out here are a daily occurrence at times.
But this must have been a shorter than usual train as it was rolling right along on the grade. Unfortunately the low clouds were moving just as fast and the head end missed some fantastic light by 30 seconds. The mid-train DPU's were in great light in the distance, but shadowed by the time they got to the bridge. It was a similar story for the rear end too.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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Beautiful! Well done!

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

Beautiful photography Ted.  Your pics are always top notch.  Thanks for sharing these.  

Jerry
ATSF5669

Great series of shots! Thanks for sharing...

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Great set of shots!  All winners.

Outstanding bunch.
JB

Good stuff.
Classic locations but far. Reminds me of those great Pentrex VHS presentations from years ago.
t4p.

Excellent photos!

Very NICE Ted!

Larry

Great series!

Nice coverage and photos—really like the last shot.
Brian Stevens

Posted from iPhone

funnelfan Wrote:
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> With the few trains that UP runs through the Blue
> Mountains these days, only three in 7 hours, it's
> best to make the most of each train.

I was just looking through some old railfanning notebooks and went over a weekend trip in the Oregon Blue Mountains from back in the early 90's.  On the saturday of this particular weekend, there were 26 trains in the 24 hour period, and that wasn't including the light helper movements.  Now a typical day is what, like 12 trains a day (maybe 13 or 14 if you're lucky).  I sure miss those days....

Ticeska Wrote:
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> Now a typical day is what, like 12
> trains a day (maybe 13 or 14 if you're lucky).  I
> sure miss those days....

Yes, that is correct.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Great pics!!

Ted, your photos are great!  Thanks for sharing.