Day 8: Helper again

Up bright and early today to find a cold crispy Helper. So while NZ was fast asleep I was busy suiting up with layers of merino, polar fleece, ski pants, insulated boots, multiple socks, etc and so on. Worked out how to use my shoelaces to tie seal gators in my ski pants tight around my shoes, so not a drop of snow got into my boots all day :-) Not bad when I spent half of it stomping round in knee high snow.

First port of call was the Wildcat loadout facility, but all was empty and not a train or person in sight. Second call was Walmart to stock up on food, I now have Oreos with a weird vaguely radioactive green looking mint icing. Third stop was the Savage load out, but again all was empty, although I couldn't find any roads anywhere near it. What I did find were some dear bouncing along in the snow…

Flying deer, near Wellington, UT.

Called back in at Wildcat, still no train! Stopped in at Helper yard and saw the morning UP manifest losing an Southern Pacific helper unit. Stood round in the snow showers waiting for something to happen, but apart from the train easing down the hill not much happened.

Hopped in the car and went up to Soldier Summit for another stake out. Heard a train get a warrant down the Pleasant Valley sub, great, a 10 mile branch with no road access. Still, got a few photos as it headed off on its way:

Did I mention it was snowing? It's sort of a given at the moment. Today it was big big flakes, about the size of corn flakes. After the coal train had disappeared I went to Jane Park road again to wait. I few flakes fell in the car but melted leaving not a trace of water, so must be very dry snow. When I was stomping round in it outside it was so incredibly soft and powdery, the kind of stuff skiers dream about.

While waiting I had the radio on and came across Prairie Home Companion , which was a very nice way to pass the time. It's a combination of little skits, some very dry humour, and musical performances. Very relaxing, and the presenter has an amazing chocolaty accent.

After 3 hours of no trains I began to wonder. I heard a one sided conversation on the radio which told me nothing, but it lined up with when the BNSF manifest left the Helper yard yesterday, so I whizzed down and sure enough it was crawling up the hill, and I mean crawling! If I made a list of train things I like, it'd be BNSF, snow, and heavy slow running at full throttle. So… I was pleased!

 

By now she was up to a quick jogging pace and the echo off the canyon walls was fantastic. Had fun getting into some of the spots, the snow looks perfectly flat on top, but one step you're walking on a thick crust of ice, the next you're up to your knees! Was pretty puffed by the time I got back to the car, but definitely worth it.

Tried a new photo spot which would look great with some low sunlight, but none of that up on Soldier Summit today. I wasn't complaining though as I dashed to the next photo spot.

I was determined to get a shot coming into Soldier Summit, however when I pulled into the road down there I suddenly discovered the road no longer existed! There was just a white blanket with absolutely no indication there had ever been a road! The only clue where the road might be was there were no plants there, so I carefully made my way down. The actual snow wasn't deep or slippery, it was just completely blanking out all traces of the road. Still, I got the bottom and got my shots, so mission accomplished.

Climbing into Soldier Summit kicking up a cloud of snow.

BNSF "swoosh" paint scheme swooshing past.

The train had an interesting consist. In addition to the usual tank wagons and box cars, it had a bunch of DODX flatcars, which is the tracing symbol of the Department of Defence.

Tracked…somethings on DODX flatcars / DPU bringing up the rear, kicking up snow.

No sooner had I traced my tracks back out of Soldier Summit to the highway than I stumbled on the East-bound BNSF manifest. How is it that while railfanning the UP mainline I only ever see BNSF trains?? Well, not complaining, BNSF is my favourite :-)

Raced up the road and got into position and snapped this as the DPU sped past:

Oh snap!!!

Around the corner I went to catch her coming out of the tunnels.

It was snowing pretty heavily now and right towards me, so it's a miracle there were no flakes on the lens. I was waiting a while for the train to come past, and when I started walking back to the car I noticed another car parked behind me and peering in the windows. What the?! I ran back as quickly as I could and saw that I'd attracted the attention of Highway Patrol! Uh oh! Luckily the guy, Levi, was just checking I was alright. Although having seen me braving knee deep snow and flurries, he probably wasn't very convinced. But he waved goodbye and went on his way.

And so did I, down to Castle Gate.

Nothing says "Helper" more than Castle Gate. From this angle if you look very carefully you can just make out the large arch.

Down in Helper the sun was setting and so from the motel I managed to snap a whole series of images, all with cars in them. Grr!

View from my window.

 
Looking the other way.

Pretty nice huh!? All fro $35 a night. I also get a fantastic view of the Book Cliffs and Balance Rock.

Motel forecourt at sundown / Balance Rock basking in the last rays of sun.

Went down to the Balance Rock Eatery and had at least half a chicken for $12. Afterwards I cruised by the railway yard and the SP unit was still there, so a brisk walk back to the motel and I had my camera and tripod. "Brisk" was certainly the word, every puddle was frozen solid and there was a nippy breeze blowing. But I was nicely wrapped up and got the following:

ex-SP AC4400

AC4400 and 2x SD60M helpers / AC4400 again

I've been here in the land of snow for a week now, and taken 762 photos. Where to next? Flagstaff? Or up to Ogden and into Montana? Decisions…