Caboose hop at Smith Lake. With the Skookum Locomotive still experiencing intermittent technical issues, the folks from the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad elected to have all 3 of their operable steam locomotives accompany us northbound on our Trains Magazine Charter. Polson Logging Co. #2 would pull the mixed train carrying the phototgraphers, Columbia River Belt Line Railway #7 "Skookum" would haul the log train, and McCloud River Railroad #25 would come along as a protection locomotive, ready to grab the log train and step in for Skookum if she developed any problems. You've heard of railroads running "diesel protection" for a steam charter, but this is honestly the first time I'd ever seen "steam protection"....and it was a most welcome sight. In this scene, we see MCR Prairie #25, making her way north with a caboose hop across the causeway at Smith Lake and throwing a decent reflection as she does. This is also the first time I'd see this unique-looking caboose lettered for the Willamette & Pacific, which apparently did come from the WPRR and has been resident at the OCSR for about 10 years. Unfortunately, I've been unable to find much history on it.
Landscape photography is difficult due to the challenge of combining good light and good scenery. Good railroad photography enters another level of complexity since it requires the first two while there is a train in view.
