Rich Mountain in the rain - 2nd section

more from Thursday, October 22, 2009 ...

rainy Arkansas roads

KCS switching at the south end of DeQueen yard. Viewed from the front porch of an abandoned house.

UP 5908 bangs across the DeQueen & Eastern diamond: DeQueen, Ark.

This LED signal protects the KCS / DQ&E crossing in DeQueen.

Miller's Garage: Hatfield, Ark.

A good thing for a railfan to know.

Coming next: More clouds on the A&M, and on to KC...

WSC

np: Canned Heat & John Lee Hooker - "Boogie Chillen No. 2"

Rich Mountain in the rain

Thursday, October 22, 2009

I last visited Rich Mountain two years ago, following my California trip in October 2007. (See trip report here: http://whiskeytexas.blogspot.com/2007/11/escape-to-rich-mountain.html ) I enjoyed gorgeous weather on that trip, so I guess it was only fitting that this year's visit would feature less-than-ideal conditions (gray skies and scattered showers). I don't often venture out to shoot in that kind of weather, but I would certainly feel more experienced with it by the end of the day. And there wouldn't be much concern about beating trains to the next spot for "ideal sun"...

Southbound in the rain near Gilham, Ark.

KCS northbound with UP locomotives south of Wickes, Ark.

I stuck around DeQueen to photograph a couple of northbound coal empties, then followed them north toward Heavener. The railroad was busy; southbound trains were waiting for the northbounds at Gilham, Wickes, Rich Mountain, and Heavener.


It's hard to tell this is KCS... BNSF locomotives power coal loads and empties meeting at Wickes, Arkansas.

The first northbound - coal empties with BNSF power at Eagleton

The second northbound - coal empties with UP power.

A colorful trio of locomotives powers a southbound between Heavener and Page.

These weren't exactly the weather conditions I had hoped for, but the overcast skies made the fall colors appear even more dynamic. And the low clouds obscuring the hillsides around Page contributed a somber mood and surreal atmosphere. What a great day to be a photographer!

Mood lighting - a northbound KCS train departs Page, Oklahoma.

Two things in short supply in north Texas -- fall color and misty hillsides -- are represented here. It was worth the trip!

Graffiti by "Theory". One of the most interesting pieces I saw during the trip.

Held out of Heavener - KCS 4601 cools its heels, waiting for a spot to open up in Heavener yard.

After it got too dark to shoot anymore, I headed north to tie up for the night in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Friday's objective would be to photograph two trains on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad. Stay tuned for that report... but coming next you'll see a second section of photos from Rich Mountain. Stay tuned...

WSC

np: Ray Wylie Hubbard - "The Lovers in your Dreams"

Escape to Rich Mountain

An hour after landing at D-FW Airport from my California trip, I was on the highway headed toward Rich Mountain (in the Ouachita Mountains on the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line). I had photographed KCS trains on Rich Mountain a few times -- but not since 1997! I was looking forward to getting back there. I'd have plenty of company; several railfan friends from out of town would be in the area for an informal get-together on Saturday and Sunday.

Here are the photos from the Rich Mountain area on Sunday, October 28.

All the motels in Mena, Heavener, and Poteau were full. I ended up having to stay 45 miles west of Heavener in Wilburton; I drove the rest of the way to Heavener on Sunday morning. This sight of a KCS train working in the early-morning fog greeted me when I arrived in Heavener.

Crowds of "foamers" (railfans) were the order of the day. A small group congregates north of Heavener as a southbound coal train waits for a clear track in the yard.


Not what I came here to see... a UP AC4400 leads a coal load up the steep grade toward the Rich Mountain summit.

That's more like it... KCS 6607 leads a southbound freight approaching Mena.

Stephen performs a close-up rollby inspection on a northbound...

HLCX junkers power a southbound rock train at Wickes, Ar.

Stephen and James take to their roofs in Wickes.

northbound grain empties in Vandervoort.

Could a church sign represent the state of "Arkinsaw" more perfectly than this?

I left Heavener around 6 pm and arrived back home around 11:30, capping off 8 1/2 days of travel and some very memorable days by the tracks in three states. It would take me a couple of weeks to process all the photos and get back to my normal routine around the house.

I've been out shooting a few times during the past week; I'll have some new photos of local stuff to share soon. Until then...

WSC

nr: John Steinbeck - East of Eden

np: Mark Davis and Hal Jay - WBAP morning show

short vacation re-cap

Here's what I've been busy with during the past week and a half...

Sunday 10/21 - flew from DFW to San Jose, rented car, drive to Modesto to spend the night.

Modesto & Empire GE 70-tonners - October 22, 2007

Monday 10/22 - railfanned Modesto and Stockton areas - mainly on the Modesto & Empire Traction but also the ST&E, CCT, and a little bit on BNSF and UP. Drove to Monterey to spend the night.

Cannery Row in Monterey

The Pacific Coast south of Carmel Highlands, CA

Tuesday 10/23 - sightseeing in Monterey - Monterey Bay and Cannery Row. Visited the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, then drove south on Highway 1 along the Pacific Coast from Monterey to Cambria, then east to Bakersfield and Tehachapi.

Tehachapi Loop - October 24, 2007

Wed 10/24 & Thu 10/25 - watched and photographed trains in the Tehachapi Mountains - stayed in Tehachapi Tue, Wed & Thu nights.

a smoky day on Cajon - an eastbound climbs the pass on Oct. 26.

Fri 10/26 - drove to Cajon Jct and spent the day photographing trains on Cajon Pass. Drove to Ontario to spend the night.

Sat 10/27 - caught flight from Ontario to DFW. Picked up car at airport, drove to Wilburton OK to spend the night.

KCS 4597 at Rich Mountain, AR - October 28.

Sun 10/28 - drove from Wilburton to Heavener, met up with friends photographing the KCS around Rich Mountain. Drove home Sunday evening - end of vacation.

A foamy day in Wickes, AR - October 28.

Stay tuned for several upcoming reports and a ton of photos.

WSC

nr: John Steinbeck - East of Eden

np: Ernest Tubb - Give Me a Little Old-Fashioned Love