The Deseret Power Ry.'s loaded afternoon train usually leaves the loadout, around 4:30PM shortly after the swing shift arrives for work. This time of year, here in eastern Utah and western Colorado it is totally dark by 5PM, so you have to catch this loaded train very close to the eastern end of the railroad because if you go too far west it will be dark when the train arrives. I picked out a spot that I had not previously taken shots from near the crossroads called Blue Mountain. That grove of trees in the mid background is Blue Mountain in its entirety; just a couple of ranch houses and another couple of trailer homes. I climbed up onto a sandstone hogback and waited, and waited. The sun got lower and lower and the shadows got longer. I was about to give up when off to the east on the descent from Holum Pass I saw a headlight. It was train time. The question was would the train beat the setting sun. Well, it did by only 5 minutes. I got a couple of shots in the beautiful “golden hour” light as the train climbed a slight grade in front of me. 5 minutes later the scene was in deep shadow. I’d rather be lucky than good. Time to head home as it was getting cold and the wind was picking up.
