They DO Run!!!
Getting operational information on the Black Mesa & Lake Powell was nearly an impossible task. Not very many people venture out to this remote corner of the world to photograph it, so information is sparse...if you can come by any information at all (and due to the vagaries of any railroad operation, it can all change without warning).
But luckily, we ran into another railfan during one of our Apache chases who had just been out to the BM&LP about a week before. He told us the current operating pattern was to run an empty out of the Navajo Generating Station around 3:00 PM. Yuck. Not the best for lighting (going east in the afternoon), but out here on this elusive railroad, I'll take whatever I can get.
So a quick runby past the power plant in the morning showed the train sitting there -- cool, I can go get my laundry done! :-) Around mid-day, Jason & I scouted out the line and settled on this spot where the tracks turn a little more north-south before swinging northeast to parallel US 160 (and where you can bag it several times -- prior to this point, the railroad goes more "cross-country" and it's much more difficult to chase).
So here we were, sitting out in my car in 94 degree heat with the air conditioner blasting away, not 100% sure when this railroad even ran. Headlights zipping around the corner got us out of the car & into a dead sprint for our arranged photo spot. Hi-rail. Well, that's at least a sign of life out here...
An hour later, almost to the minute, headlights again...except this time, the headlight is attached to four GE E60C-2 locomotives in matching N de M paint (Nacionales de Mexico -- their previous owner). Jackpot!!!!
It's moments like this that make the hobby incredibly rewarding!
They DO Run!!!
Getting operational information on the Black Mesa & Lake Powell was nearly an impossible task. Not very many people venture out to this remote corner of the world to photograph it, so information is sparse...if you can come by any information at all (and due to the vagaries of any railroad operation, it can all change without warning).
But luckily, we ran into another railfan during one of our Apache chases who had just been out to the BM&LP about a week before. He told us the current operating pattern was to run an empty out of the Navajo Generating Station around 3:00 PM. Yuck. Not the best for lighting (going east in the afternoon), but out here on this elusive railroad, I'll take whatever I can get.
So a quick runby past the power plant in the morning showed the train sitting there -- cool, I can go get my laundry done! :-) Around mid-day, Jason & I scouted out the line and settled on this spot where the tracks turn a little more north-south before swinging northeast to parallel US 160 (and where you can bag it several times -- prior to this point, the railroad goes more "cross-country" and it's much more difficult to chase).
So here we were, sitting out in my car in 94 degree heat with the air conditioner blasting away, not 100% sure when this railroad even ran. Headlights zipping around the corner got us out of the car & into a dead sprint for our arranged photo spot. Hi-rail. Well, that's at least a sign of life out here...
An hour later, almost to the minute, headlights again...except this time, the headlight is attached to four GE E60C-2 locomotives in matching N de M paint (Nacionales de Mexico -- their previous owner). Jackpot!!!!
It's moments like this that make the hobby incredibly rewarding!