The Foothills of Stevens Pass 1-15-12
January 16th, 2012 by briannpmanThis past weekend was the annual Tracks in the Snow event and I decided to head up to Skykomish on Sunday to join the rest of the group. It had snowed most of Saturday north of Renton but there wasn’t any snow on the ground when I left home around 08:00 AM. That all changed once I was past Kirkland with some snow falling and quite a bit on the ground.
Once I was east of Monroe it was a winter wonderland, lots of snow on the ground but there was none falling. At Gold Bar I saw what appeared to be an eastbound dirt train in the yard with a pair of C44-9W’s on the east end. Just east of Gold Bar I could hear someone talking to a crew about getting the switches dug out and they should be able to leave soon.
It was snowing again when I went by the Index turnoff but had stopped before Baring where I heard the E. Skykomish detector go off and the dispatcher tell the 4002 West there was an eastbound at Lowell but the switches at Monroe and Gold Bar would not throw so they’d go in at Baring and be there awhile. I pulled off east of Grotto at Money Creek but the shot I took was really dark. I decided to head on up to Skykomish and see what was going on there.
First I noticed the moved Skykomish depot on the south side of the tracks and took a few photos of it.
Snow Dozer 972514 was here covered with snow. I had heard that the “teeth” it once sported had been painted over and sadly I saw this was the case. Still looked really good with all the snow on it.
Fitting it would be in Skykomish as the 972514 has a GN heritage, built as the Great Northern X7305. I didn’t see any one else mulling around Skykomish so I figured all the other guys must be out photographing trains. I headed west back towards Index and heard a roll by at Gold Bar telling me the eastbound was getting close. The road back to Index had a lot of snow on it but I parked near the grade crossing where I met up with some other fans also waiting to photograph the eastbound. One I later learned was Kurt Moose. I’d been wanting to meet up with him because of his interest in the Stampede Sub. Sadly we never introduced ourselves!
We could hear the eastbound working its way towards us and soon the gates came down. I really liked my photo of the BNSF 4641 East, an empty grain train, especially as the snow was falling. This photo was taken at 10:13 AM.
The train stirred up a cold snowy breeze as it passed by but I knew there would be a DPU on the rear so was ready when the 5274 swept by under power (and throttling down) and around the curve onto the bridge.
Some of the others headed east after it but I stayed behind for the westbound with the idea of following it to Gold Bar and photograph that eastbound there in the yard that sounded as if it was ready to head east. I did move to a trail between the crossing and the bridge for a better angle. While waiting the snow had stopped falling. I took the opportunity to photograph Bridge 1746 which is of course was constructed by the GN.
I always liked how the bridge itself was straight but the track curved through it. Soon the westbound, later identified as the S-STPTAC with the 4020/4639/645/605/7903 crossed the bridge at 10:42 AM.
Then it was back to the car and west to Gold Bar. I was happy to find it was snowing at Gold bar! The dirt train was having problems getting their train put back together as it had sat there overnight and was literally frozen to the rails! The side road along the east switch had lots of unplowed snow on it and the Focus didn’t like it at all. I pulled off onto the side of the road and waited for the train to leave. During my wait I discover the Focus is stuck in the snow. Front wheels just sit and spin. I get out my shovel and dig the wheels out and the car breaks free so at least the car is unstuck now.
It took them awhile to get on the move out of the yard and onto the siding but at 11:43 AM I got my first shots of the EVEWEN, led by the 5504/4488. Here they are creeping up the siding with a foreman in his Hi-rail waiting at the yard switch to line it back to the siding after the last car passes.
And the next two show the dirt train moving from the siding to the main line. I especially like the snow piled up on the chain and front handrails of the 5504.
As the head end goes by I shoot trailing unit 4488 as steam rises from the radiators of the lead C44-9W.
The Foreman finds a problem and the train comes to a stop as it is corrected. This gives me a chance for one last photo of the head end.
It is still early but the snow gets the best of me and I decide it’s time to go home. Good thing too as road conditions are pretty bad all the way to Renton and will only get worse as the afternoon progresses.
I am pleased with most of the photos I have taken so it was a good day. My favorites are the Snow Dozer at Skykomish, the BNSF 4641 East at Index and the first shot of the 5504 leaving Gold Bar.
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