The Sunset Route. It’s a name that embodies the history, romance, and beauty of the route and under the UP, is a very busy line. While UP intends to double track the entire route, there are still long stretches of single track which cause operational bottlenecks for the railroad, but set up good meets for the railfan. At Shawmut Siding, a west-bound of empty containers and well cars has taken the siding which also happens to be the original main line laid by the SP in 1880 and has two rather sharp curves. After a brief wait, a hot eastbound inter-modal comes around the bend and passes on the new alignment that was laid in 1959 to straighten out the curves and allow better train speed. Behind this train is another eastbound consisting of all autoracks and it can be seen in the far distant right side of the image. It has passed through Gila Bend and can be seen and followed more than 10 miles from this vantage as it grinds up the continuous 20 mile long 1% grade out of the Gila Valley and crests the summit about two miles from here at Estrella. This beautiful land is all part of the Sonoran Desert National Monument, set up to preserve the unique landscape and protect the famous Saguaro cactus, which are plentiful here. I wasn’t threatened by any wildlife here, but a cactus with its long, thin, spiky needles can leave a sharp, stinging pain like no other. Don’t ask me how I know.
