December 31, 2014: Into a New Year

West portal, Cascade Tunnel.  Looking forward to a good New Year!

2014: Balancing the books.....

One of the issues I ran into while post a picture for each day of the past year was my failure to keep track of what shots were used.  As a result, there were, over the period of 365 days, 2 photos that ended up being used twice.  So, to meet my goal of a "different" picture each day of 2014, here are the two "make-up shots."


Butt-Assed Cold at Gaynor

It's just below zero on the east slope of Stevens Pass as an empty grain train drops downgrade.

Colfax, Washington

December 30, 2014; Twisting Down the Hill

Eastbound containers snake their way downgrade.

December 29, 2014: Still Above the Snowline

Having been in snow since leaving the Twin Cities, a westbound train dropping down Stevens Pass is only miles away from finally seeing the ties between the rails.

December 28, 2014: Snoqualmie Snow

Snowy scene along the Milwaukee Road right-of-way across Snoqualmie Pass.

December 27, 2014: Snow Squall

An eastbound train is nearly obscured behind a curtain of falling snow.

December 26, 2014; Winter at Decpetion Creek

The cold waters of Deception Creek cascade around snow covered rocks while overhead a helper set drifts downhill towards Skykomish.

December 25, 2014: Doing the Lord's Work

For all of those doing the Lord's work on the Lord's birthday.

December 24, 2014; A Silent Night

Merry Christmas to all!

December 23, 2014: Slogging Through the Snow

The eastbound Empire Builder climbs a snowy Stevens Pass.

December 22, 2014: High Rises

Home owners attempt to out smart the often flooding Snohomish River.

December 21, 2014; The Dead Line

Having run her final revenue miles for the BN, the last light of day shines on a locomotive still showing her Northern Pacific heritage.

December 20, 2014; The Back Shop

Locomotive back shop, Fort Bragg, California.

December 19, 2014: Taking Sunday Off

Power of the Anacortes Local sits idle on a Sunday afternoon.

December 18, 2014: Sierra Crossing

An eastbound train ascends the Southern Pacific's famous crossing the of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Donner Pass.

December 17, 2014: Winter Morning

Morning breaks clear and cold on the farm.

December 16, 2014; Cutting Edge, Once Upon a Time

A group of cows is being milked in what in 1972 was considered an ultramodern parlor.

December 15, 2014; Dairy of Merit

In its day, the family farm in Ohop lived up to its billing.

December 14, 2014; Wood Grain

Wood bin construction detail, wheat elevator, Korum, Washington.

December 13, 2014; Island in a Sea of Plastic

Tarping down a stack of corn silage.

December 12, 2014; Pride

If nothing else, there is still pride in farming.

December 11, 2014; Highball Scenic

An eastbound freight rumbles through Scenic, moments away from entering the Cascade Tunnel.

December 10, 2014; Snowy Morning at Berne

An eastbound train makes its way through a heavy snow squall on Stevens Pass.

December 9, 2014; Weather Is Getting a Little Rough

Although there isn't much on the ground yet, an increasing snow storm will soon enough solve that issue.

December 8, 2014; Winter at Gaynor

A westbound freight emerges from the short Gaynor Tunnel in the dead of winter.

December 7, 2014: Snow Higher Up

Pouring rain at Kanaskat, Washington is obviously snow higher up on the slopes of Stampede Pass.

December 6, 2014; Putting On at Scenic

M of W to the rescue!  Large chunks of ice have fallen off a westbound train and are blocking the drainage ditches in the Cascade Tunnel.  While an eastbound waits, a maintenance man puts on at Scenic in preparation of going into the bore and clearing the obstructions.

December 5, 2014; Switching Snohomish

The BN Boeing Job begins the day switching a sawmill in Snohomish, Washington.

December 4, 2014: Bellingham

Depot detail, Bellingham, WA

December 3, 2014; Bumping Cans

The Annie Local switches LPG tankers at Burlington, Washington.

December 2, 2014; Working the Annie Local

The crew of the Annie Local boost the all-weather cab arm rest onto the lead unit.

December 1, 2014; Flood Season

The Conway turn runs above the flooding Stillaguamish River near Stanwood, Washington.

November 30, 2014; The Sumas

A local drops off the Sumas Branch in Sedro Woolley, Washington.

November 29, 2014; Not Again

A BN clam shell splashes in the Skagit River while trying to remove a massive log jam against railroad's bridge.  High water scours the banks of fallen trees, washing them down stream where they lodge against the bridge abutments.  Although this jam was cleared, with recent high water, another is already forming.

November 28. 2014; Distributed Power

A set of DPU's (distributed power units) take a breather from helping an eastbound train while they wait for a westbound to pass at Scenic.

November 27, 2014: Thanksgiving, 1970

My mother, in her June Cleaver housedress sets the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

November 26, 2014; Stampede Stonehenge

A westbound freight threads between the columns of the old Milwaukee Road trestle at Easton, Washington.

November 25, 2014: Into the Sunset

A westbound freight climbs towards the Great Divide.

November 24, 2014; East Meets West (End)

Eastbound containers meet a westbound freight at West End, Montana.

November 23, 2014; Talking to the DS

Holding at Scenic, a trainman uses the old "direct" method to talk to the dispatcher.

November 22, 2014; The Lowly Caboose

I still believe freight trains should have a caboose.

November 21, 2014; Snowy Hello

The conductor of a westbound exchanges a wave with his counterpart tucked away in the warm cab of an eastbound.

November 20, 2014: They Sure Sounded Sweet

An early summer morning's stillness is interrupted by the sweet sound of a freight climbing the east slope of Stampede Pass.

November 19, 2014; Think Tank

Where "Rambling West" is created.

November 18, 2014; The Tye River Valley

Looking up the Tye River Valley towards Stevens Pass.

November 17, 2014: Climbing Towards the Top

A westbound freight climbs the last mile to the summit of Stevens Pass.

November 16, 2014; Winter Sunshine

In Washington, a sunny day during the winter in a definite bonus.

November 15, 2014: Old Equipment Abounds

A pair of former Northern Pacific unit pull a train past stored derelict passenger cars at Tacoma's Union Station.

November 14, 2014; Winter Stroll

A couple take a sunset walk along the tracks at Mukilteo,Washington