Thank you. That tunnel also marked the end of an extended legal battle between the Clinchfield/ACL and the SOU. The SOU enjoyed high revenue handling interchange between them and the SOU fought against their plans to directly connect. The SOU eventually lost the case and this tunnel was the result. I'm standing on a now-abandoned trestle and it's evidence of the mess of tracks that came together there. The SOU's passenger depot (which still serves ATK today) is just out of view to the left:
I was coming home from the family property in Central Texas today. The road that I usually take is closed due to a bridge being replaced over the Little Brazos River. So traffic was heavy on this little po-dunk farm road that was designated as a detour. Just west of Valley Junction outside Hearne, the lights start flashing and the gates go down. Oh boy, a train. Well, we waited until finally a FRED on the end of a car is shoved across the road. After about 100 box cars, tank cars, gondolas and hoppers creep by some locomotive finally appear. They had backed off the old MoPac line that heads up to Fort Worth onto the Palestine Sub the heads up to Arkansas. They have to do a back up move to get lined up correctly as the old interchange in that direction looks pretty decrepit. It is still there but I would not want to take a train over it. Here we are watching the train back up.
My wife always kids me as I slow for X-ings. I say, "just being safe", and she responds, "I know better, you're praying for a train". I have been known to creep to a stop when I spot a headlight in the distance, although the lights don't start flashing for another 20-30 seconds......who me?
Yessir! I'm sure many of us have also crossed the tracks ..... then pulled over to watch the train go by. Motorists must think we're nuts.
Yup. Many times, with many odd looks from the other motorists. Which those looks can at times be quite fascinating...
This is the perfect photo reply to all those complaints of "unrealistic" tunnel portals with no mountain above/around them...
Regarding highway crossings, I've found that they're also the worst place to set up for a photo because every driver that passes by has to: * Slow down to observe you or * Stop and ask what you're doing or * Yell something unintelligible as they go past or * Stop and ask for directions (as happened just as a very rare daylight appearance by Amtrak was filling my lens)
I get the exactly same when I set up my telescope for some skywatching or photography. It's as if any sort of optical equipment turns me into the local tourist information booth (or tourist attraction). Better yet, if I go with my camera anywhere, I get totally ignored until I break out my huge 60-300 mm zoom lens. That's when everyone wants me to take a photo of them with their camera. The bigger the lens, the greater the interest and the more they think I'm a pro. The worst is, they hand me their little camera (which is worth maybe $70) and want me to take photos with that. I know it's their precious little toy, but for me, it's just a toy. So I take the stupid picture (fumbling around with their automatic settimgs - of course, they have no idea how they work) and hand it back to them with a big smile and a hearty "you're welcome". Weirder still, if I mount the smaller lens, I get totally ignored and they gravitate to the biggest lens they can see like flies to a lantern.
Yep , the ABBA thru the portal is awesome shot, at first these old eyes thought it was a very good model shot but then realized I was in the proto forum . Also , Sandpoint ID has nearly 50 trains a day over the diamond for UP and BNSF . Awesome action from a dozen vantage ( legal ) points along the city streets not to mention the shots from the lake and the two long bridges ...
Ken, you get time to come down we'll chase trains !!! We can use my VC and email them to you from my house , which is 2 blocks from the double main for BNSF in Sagle. ( actually a 14 plus mile siding ha ha ).
Well, maybe we can try this coming Spring?! I need to get over and spend some serious time there. Also want to pop over to Usk and try to see the MILW U-boat, and get down to St,Maries-Plummer areas.
