Following a hot and humid work day that had reached the 90s in Northern New England, why not be insane and hike up a mountain for a photo of a train soon after? Knowing Canadian Pacific job F13 was still South of my house while they finished their work in Searsport, Maine, I took a leisurely drive to the South end of my hometown of Frankfort. Here, a brisk fifteen-minute hike followed up past the Freshwater Stone Quarry to a ledge that overlooks the sweeping curve around Thornton's pit on the Prospect town line. My two boys were also in the area and would intercept the returning train a few miles beyond in Stockton Springs while keeping me abreast of their location. Shorter days are once again returning fast this late Summer, and I watched the mountain's shadow line quickly overtake the bridge over Route 1A and advance toward the main curve. I waited a total of 45 minutes in a beautiful breeze for F13 to show with its 2 GP20 ECOs and 20 cars. A healthy block of 13 slurry loads took most of the light on the line behind the power, with Heagan Mountain providing the backdrop.
