As the afternoon progressed I caught several more trains between the last bridge and the east switch at Sais. Just before 4:00pm as an eastbound train slowed to a stop in the distance, a high green signal appeared at East Sais for a westbound “Z” train making a fast trip through Abo Canyon.
The scene was quiet and still for a few minutes, and then the rumble of the westbound train could be heard in the canyon behind me.
Suddenly the train appeared from behind the hill and out onto the western-most bridge. For those of you familiar with this area, note the hill on the right in the background that once masked the old quarry is gone now.
This was the hot ZWSPLAC9 train, composed entirely of TOFC cars with no double stacks in sight as it snaked around the giant S-curve.
A few seconds later the 7398 West came by with a few horn honks to acknowledge my refective vest and hard hat.
Gaining straight track at Sais, the train quickly accelerated to cover the last twenty or so miles into Belen.
Now it was the eastbound’s turn at the five-miles of single track through the canyon.
