Steam & Excursion > A Queen in a Forbidden Land

Friedrich Manfred Simon and myself setup on the lower end of Sherars Falls for the southbound trip of the SP 4449 in the Deschutes River Canyon. The falls show evidence of wild waters in the distant past, but mostly run in the deep channel these days. Before the installation of Round Butte Dam near Madras, rushing waters exposed jagged rocks by stripping away the soil and loose basalt layers. But for something as elegant as the SP 4449 Daylight locomotive and entourage to pass beside this scene seems like a queen strolling through a forbidden land.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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Wonderful image: composition, subject, color, light, and a fine narrative to go along with it.

Most of the Trunk and companion Gateway Sub run through areas that are still pretty much wilderness.
Incredible given how many people are about.

TJY

Love this shot, especially the colors of the water. Second the thumbs up on the great narrative.

So what was the sound like up hill through Gateway? Used to be a great spot to listen to the
Alcos work.

Out

Very nice shot - makes us want to go there this Fall.

callum_out Wrote:
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> So what was the sound like up hill through
> Gateway? Used to be a great spot to listen to the
> Alcos work.
>
> Out


I was four cars back from the Amtrak locomotive in the consist and was peering out the door. The sounds of the exhaust up the entire canyon were very audible to me. Even though it was unusually hot for Oregon that day, I was not going to miss that sound! I must have drank six or seven water bottles that day. I was concerned about the engine crew, but I knew they would be on top of it.

Kennard Britton
Bedford, TX

What a beautiful photo -- and your prose
is equally beautiful. IO second everything
taht "railstiesballast" said. Yes -- a true
queen, far away from her ancestral home, but
very much in command of this, a faraway part of
her realm,

Very nice!

kennbritt Wrote:
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> I must have drank six or seven water
> bottles that day. I was concerned about the
> engine crew, but I knew they would be on top of
> it.
>
> Kennard Britton
> Bedford, TX


We were on top of it, and went through a lot of water also. The BNSF pilot crew had fun disposing of our empty bottles for us through the fire door peep-hole.

Another beauty, Ted. Isn't it a pity that these excursions run through such boring, unscenic territory. (sarcasm--Oregon is such a beautiful state.)

Beautiful shot Ted!

Larry

WHAT, you burned our ten cent bottles!!!!! GREAT picture! Arlen

Wonderful composition and colors in the water! Glad to hear the engine crew stayed hydrated!! Thanks for a great shot!

Great pic...!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/17 13:08 by ns1000.

asheldrake Wrote:
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> WHAT, you burned our ten cent bottles!!!!! GREAT
> picture! Arlen

Arlen, the cab would have been full if we hadn't..;)

Scott

Posted from iPhone

kennbritt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> callum_out Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So what was the sound like up hill through
> > Gateway? Used to be a great spot to listen to
> the
> > Alcos work.
> >
> > Out
>
>
> I was four cars back from the Amtrak locomotive in
> the consist and was peering out the door. The
> sounds of the exhaust up the entire canyon were
> very audible to me. Even though it was unusually
> hot for Oregon that day, I was not going to miss
> that sound! I must have drank six or seven water
> bottles that day. I was concerned about the
> engine crew, but I knew they would be on top of
> it.
>
> Kennard Britton
> Bedford, TX


Ken, I did not know that you were on this trip. I would have loved to have met up with you again. I was in our old haunts in the baggage car most of the trip.

-Fred-

Great photo and narrative!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA