Day 3 was very cold and wet early on. I guess that ended up being a good thing because there really weren’t any trains to be had. Thanks to the MOW west of Avon train movements were winding down for the day. The ML was pulling up to Elliston to add helpers so we ran over McDonald Pass and set up at Austin. The timing should have been right for the train to drop down from Weed as the sun was coming up over the mountains. Great plans!
We heard the ML come out of the tunnel in full dynamic. We knew it would still be 20 minutes or so down to Austin so we stayed warm in the rental car. The sun wasn’t out yet. About 15 minutes later we hear on the radio “Did you do that?” ”No, wasn’t me”. The ML went into emergency just about the time it was going to pass the signal at Weed. Wonderful. By the time they walk the train, tie it down, recharge the brakes and get going it should be another hour. The good news is the sun isn’t out yet so maybe the delay will work out light wise.
Nearly 2 hours later the ML arrived at Austin and the sun wasn’t quite out yet.
After Austin we headed east and poked around Louisville, Winston, Townsend, and Toston seeing and photographing a few trains along the way. We ended our eastward trek down at Lombard. Lombard is such an interesting place with a wonderful history. Today it isn’t much but to think about all the things it was really make it special.
As the day wore on the light improved significantly. Also Helena started kicking westbounds out of the yard. Back up to the pass we went to capture a loaded coal train grinding it out against the grade. Of the 8 units on this train only one was a GE! What a thrilling sound to hear so many 710s doing their job! Thanks go to Robert for the inspiration for this image of the MRL helpers rounding Skyline trestle.
The goal for the day was to capture a westbound departing Helena in sunset light. Most of the group had never photographed a train climbing out so it was high on our list. We knew another coal train was called and had just started out to Helena Jct. Perfect. Our thrill was squashed a bit when the dispatcher told the coal train they had to wait for their helper to return from Elliston AND wait for a coal empty. Great, it might be dark by then. We stuck by it though and were rewarded with the very last light of the day shining on the train as it headed for the hill.
