Not steep, just long. About 3 miles, but about 4 feet in front of me is a 50 foot sheer drop! The trail that leads to my spot in the photo is easy, but sometimes a bit of invention is needed to get from track level to the trail, but it's not bad. Most railfans don't stray from their vehicles, I like to go off the beaten path.
I have to get myself in a bit better shape but maybe next year I will be up for a trip. I too have taken the "off" path for a few shots last weekend too from a tip I got here at TrainBoard but wasn't that far of a hike. Still, like you said, going the "extra mile" can make for a better view that others never see.
Thanks, Charlie! Here's a photochopped version, to show what I will try to achieve next time: Cropped out sky, darkened: Cropped sky, darkened, using overlay feature, off-center:
