Western Railroad Discussion > Arnold Loop, From a Different Perspective

You've probably seen lots of photos of the famed Arnold Loop on the former Western Pacific Railroad in far Eastern Nevada.  Here is a new perspective.

On May 23rd of this year, trackage rights train BNSF 8178 West negotiates the loop.  Both photos were taken from the same location.  The first photo is from ground level, and a green signal can be seen on the upper level of the loop where the train will be in a few minutes.  The second photo, looking the other way, is from they sky.

It was a slow day, and there was only one other train in daylight.  Lots of time between trains to explore new photographic opportunities.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/22 09:53 by billmeeker.

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Been over Arnold several times with Steam and diesel.
Great photo location.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Interesting perspective but a really long drive.

Are the trains long enough to be on both levels in #1?
t4p.

TCnR Wrote:
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> Interesting perspective but a really long drive.
>
> Are the trains long enough to be on both levels in
> #1?
> t4p.

They can be, but this one wasn't.  The double-length trains that UP likes to run would definitely fill both levels.

Great job with Pic 2...

These are great photos. Thank you for posting them! Is 4WD required to get to where you are here? Thank you.

Gary R. Clark
Griffith IN 

Any idea of the difference of hight between the two points os the curve?

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Pedro, that track around Arnolds Loop is on a 1% grade; so it gains 53 feet for every mile. Here is a photo that I took very close to the location of the lead engine in photo #1.  Maybe some Trainorders member that is familiar with the milepost locations here can estimate the distance around the loop to the photo location, but my guess is about 1 mile, or maybe a little more, so maybe the height difference is 50-70 feet.
 
Dick Ebright
Rochester, MN
 

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Thanks Bill for sharing.  I've always thought that landscape was intriguing.  It reminds me of a time several years ago when I was on the California Zephyr going around that loop late at night under a full moon.

Stan Praisewater

Contax645 Wrote:
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> These are great photos. Thank you for posting
> them! Is 4WD required to get to where you are
> here? Thank you.
>
> Gary R. Clark
> Griffith IN 

4WD is strongly recommended in this area.  If it's been raining, even 4WD is sometimes not enough.  Proceed with caution.

How about snakes, scorpions, mountain lions, etc?

amazing that a locomdive can pull a train in two direcions at the same time and stay on the track

brc600 Wrote:
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> How about snakes, scorpions, mountain lions, etc?

Never seen any of those out there, but I've heard stories about the rattlesnakes - they like to curl up against the rail to warm up.  

Very nice location. I could visit Tehachapi and Williams loops in 2013. Great locations too.

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Drones really do open up the options.  This is a great study in the two avenues open today. Both are outstanding!

Martin K. O'Toole
Marietta, Georgia