Detouring on the Trunk - Madras Bound
Friday, April 11th, 2008 by Steve EshomOn Saturday April 5 I made another one day trip to BNSF’s Oregon Trunk sub hoping to again capture some of the detouring UP trains. Unlike my previous trip this time I was bound for Madras with the focus on the South Jct. to Crooked River segment. I knew the places I wanted to visit but I really didn’t have a plan of which one I’d hit first. I just headed towards Madras to see what happened.
As I left Warm Springs I heard the UP 8619 N get a box 7 (after the arrival of) with the BNSF 7644 S at the North Siding Switch Paxton. A meet! I headed for Paxton and started off with the Z-LCBR meeting the M-VAWRRB in some decent morning glow. At this point I was faced with a choice of which train to chase. Given its unusual for the LCBR to be on the Trunk I chased it north. That proved profitable since a meet was set up with the UP 5355 S (M-EURVB) at South Jct.
Clawing into Paxton
Between Gateway and South Jct. the route drops into the Mud Springs Creek and Trout Creek canyons. Both of these canyons are neatly carved out of the lava rock and provide the railroad a route to gain some elevation as it climbs out of the Deschutes canyon toward Madras. Like other parts of the Trunk this part doesn’t lack for scenery! I think the most fascinating part is a horseshoe curve that nearly turns the train 180 degrees! The UP 5355 S proceeded to Opal City for a meet with another northbound UP manifest (M-RVPT).
Trout Creek Horseshoe
By the time I photographed the M-RVPT passing through the horseshoe the light was about right for the traditional Trout Creek trestle photo. Since everyone has seen that photo many times I’ll share some others from this fantastic location. As I was standing on the hillside above the trestle waiting for the M-PASKLF, I thought to myself how little fun it would be to stand on that hill on a hot August day. I’m thinking the spring and fall would be best for the Trunk.
Grand Canyon of the Deschutes
Trout Creek
I chased the BNSF 7622 S down to the Crooked River bridge and captured the usual side shot there. As the day wore on more and more clouds streamed over Cascades into the high desert so by the time the photo was taken the sky and lighting were quite diffused leaving things a bit drab.
Leaving the Crooked River I heard a southbound finishing a meet at Oakbrook. Doing the math I figured I had enough time to return to Madras, fuel, and head for South Jct. My estimates were correct and as I arrived at South Jct. the southbound H-PASBAR was finishing a Dixon meet. That gave me 30 minutes to scope out the area for my photo. Man was I surprised to see the second unit in the consist! The UP 2002 of all things on a BNSF manifest.
2002 at South Jct.
The southbound was headed for Round Butte for a meet with another northbound UP manifest (another M-RVPT). Again doing the math I figured around a couple of hours for the northbound to arrive. That allowed me time to enjoy dinner (yes, food at South Jct. is BYOB) and take a walk around the recreation area to scope out photo locations. As it ended up the two spots I liked either required good light or for it to be dark enough to allow for about 20-30 second exposure. With the streaming clouds and occasional showers it was clear that good light wasn’t going to happen so I hoped for a delay so it would be darker. I got neither so my last photo of the day was a compromise based on the conditions.
After dark at South Jct.
That does it for my Trunk adventures for now. I do have to say I’m hooked on this unique operation so I expect to be back again.























































Reflecting The Times:
Fast Trains:
Tracks in the Snow:
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