BNSF train H-BARSDG1-15A, a High Priority Merchandise freight heading from Barstow to San Diego; has just gotten a clear signal at Atwood, and is now continuing its journey an amazing 99 hours 17 minutes behind schedule, and possibly a little later after sitting here at Atwood for at least another hour awaiting permission to enter Metrolink's Olive Sub. (These searchlight signals will be replaced very soon – their less impressive replacements are already in place but covered for now.). This train is not very long (47 cars into Porphyry, but it set out 22 to 30 cars there) and is powered by a quartet of Dash 9-44CWs, the first three of which (799, 677 and 775) still wear the iconic ATSF/BNSF "Superfleet" red and silver paint scheme, with the fourth engine (5041) painted in BNSF's "Heritage II" black and orange (with yellow initials on the hood) scheme. Behind the power is Coaster F40PH-2C 2103, traveling dead-in-train back to San Diego, reportedly to be delivered to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. This train finally got clearance to move onto Metrolink's Olive Sub (and, from there, Metrolink's Orange Sub and then San Diego Northern's San Diego Sub) at 8:15 pm (20:15) and the crew was literally able to head into the sunset. (Placentia, California – July 20, 2022)
Landscape photography is difficult due to the challenge of combining good light and good scenery. Good railroad photography enters another level of complexity since it requires the first two while there is a train in view.
