The Salt Tram
Saline Valley, on the western side of Death Valley National Park, was known to have exceptionally pure salt deposits as early as 1864. However, it was (and remains) extremely remote, and the Inyo Mountains lie between it and the Owens Valley. Transportation from there to the Owens Valley by wagon was a two-day journey, so a 13.5-mile salt tram was constructed between the valleys in 1911-1912.
1 million board feet of lumber and 600 tons of iron had to be dragged into the mountains, which financially exhausted the Saline Valley Salt Company. The tramway operated in 1913-1918, 1920-1921, and 1929-1936. The tramway proved uneconomical and was operated by four different companies before permanently shutting down. Due to the remote area, most of the tram towers remain. More information can be found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saline_Valley_salt_tram.
This is a stack of 30 4-minute exposures, for a total exposure time of two hours. Saline Valley is on the right, and the tram is lit by a setting moon.
The Salt Tram
Saline Valley, on the western side of Death Valley National Park, was known to have exceptionally pure salt deposits as early as 1864. However, it was (and remains) extremely remote, and the Inyo Mountains lie between it and the Owens Valley. Transportation from there to the Owens Valley by wagon was a two-day journey, so a 13.5-mile salt tram was constructed between the valleys in 1911-1912.
1 million board feet of lumber and 600 tons of iron had to be dragged into the mountains, which financially exhausted the Saline Valley Salt Company. The tramway operated in 1913-1918, 1920-1921, and 1929-1936. The tramway proved uneconomical and was operated by four different companies before permanently shutting down. Due to the remote area, most of the tram towers remain. More information can be found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saline_Valley_salt_tram.
This is a stack of 30 4-minute exposures, for a total exposure time of two hours. Saline Valley is on the right, and the tram is lit by a setting moon.