Spectacle at Yacolt Creek. With the morning sun highlighting her plume, Crossett Western #10 makes a rather spectacular start with her short freight, just a hundred yards or so south of the tiny wooden trestle at Yacolt Creek.
Light Mikado Saddle Tankers such as #10 proved popular with large western lumber companies in the early part of the 20th century. With their water supply centered over the drivers, these locomotives were compact and powerful. Their 2-8-2 wheel arrangement gave them the ability to easily run in either direction and visibility in reverse was actually better than running forward. Although they could not handle the extreme grades that a Shay or Climax could tackle, they were among the best rod engines on hilly terrain, and they'd leave a Shay in their dust on level track. Lumber companies with extensive trackage would often roster one or more of these versatile machines.
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.
