FL9

Today dawned cool, cloudy and windy.  Our train ride would consist of a round trip west to Monahans, TX, and we had a good turn out of law enforcment officers from the state, county, and city.

After we left Odessa, I photographed all our guests as per my daily routine.  When we arrived in Monahans the sun was out, and after photographing more groups in front of the UP 4141, I walked down to the east end for a well it shot of the 8406 that would lead back to Odessa.

On the return trip I contemplated the flat and desolate countryside populated mainly by oil wells.  I have a lot of respect for the people who live and work out here.

In a few minutes our eastward journey was interrupted by a sharp curve to the north just before we passed under I20.

We made it back in a half hour early, and after deboarding the passengers UP spokesperson Joe Arbona gave interviews to the local media promoting railroad safety and awareness.

We put the train away again in the Solo siding; and after cleaning the train and conducting a job debriefing, we were released for the afternoon.  I finished up by taking one more sunny shot of the train now that I had afternoon light on the 4141.

I heard a track warrant over the radio to the UP 4243 West, and I beat the train back out to the cut next to the cement plant at Duoro for this shot I had been wanting to get for years.

The cement plant’s regular EMD SW switcher was out of sight, but this little engine was tucked away at the end of a track within telephoto range.  The muffler is as big as the locomotive!

I had more time to kill before meeting the team for dinner, and I drove on west to visit Monahans for the second time today.  This failed restaurant had caught my eye from the train earlier, and I wanted to get a shot of it.  Anyone want to go into partnership to reopen the Trackside Station?

Tomorrow we are off duty as the train will be deadheading to Sweetwater in the morning for Thursday’s and Friday’s runs.