A Union Pacific grain train clings to the cliffs of the Feather River Canyon as it passes through Elephant Butte, California. This image highlights just how treacherous the Feather River Route is. In 2014, this trackage was labeled "high risk" by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and CPUC, due to an elevated risk of derailment. In November of that year, a westbound grain train (similar to the one you see here), derailed, dumping eleven rail cars into the Feather River.
