While one doesn't normally venture out to the Mojave Desert during summer months, this past weekend offered below normal temperatures. As a result, a trip out to the Needles Subs was in order. Moisture from a storm brought cloud cover and high temperatures into the mid-90s. What we thought would be a busy day trackside, turned into a long afternoon lull. A bridge project at Bagdad result in the #2 main to be out of service for most of the day and traffic reflected the reduction available real-estate on the Needles Sub. As golden hour approached, the fleet of westbound trains were arriving. At one point, there were twelve westbound trains between Bagdad and Needles (90 miles).
As the sun finally dipped below the clouds, this hot Willow Springs, IL to Los Angeles, CA Z-train charges out of Amboy as it runs hot on the heels of another westbound Z. With sporadic eastbound traffic approaching the temporary single track section between Siberia and Amboy, the dispatcher was somewhat forced to run westbound in a line and based off of hours of service. Unfortunately for this LA long pool crew, it would mean following under power trains over Ash Hill and onwards to Barstow before they could get the opportunity to run, and attempt, to make up time on their 320 mile journey to Hobart Yard.
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.
