The sun had set this evening, leaving a golden sky and reflections on the North Platte River in Casper, Wyoming (7-29-2022). I had just returned from a very remote drilling rig move between Craig and Meeker, Colorado and after picking swapping the big truck for my personal vehicle, I noticed beautiful lighting and details in a thunderstorm brewing far to the east of Casper. Alas, I did NOT have the camera with me (I broke Rule #1 pffft lol) and by the time I collected it, I was left only with a mental memory (and another note to self!). The sunset and calm relfections made for a nice trade-off, though.
Tags: Casper Natrona County Wyoming WY North Platte River sunset sundown dusk evening silhouettes reflections ripples water clouds skies sky United States
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I stopped at the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center on my return trip from North Dakota to shoot a few different things that I had missed on my first visit roughly a year prior. There are some really nice pieces of rolling stock here, including this CB&Q dining car (the "Silver Salver" built by Budd in 1947 and retired in 1972 when it failed to be selected for the then-new Amtrak). The 4-8-4 in the background, #5633, was retired in 1956 and donated to Douglas in the early 60s. This was a time period when railroads began facing very real competition from airlines and automobiles and the dramatic decline in passenger trains was well underway.
I recall as a kid making two trips on the Southern Crescent from Atlanta to New Orleans, eating in a dining car very similar to this, for it was one of the last hold-outs before Amtrak. China, glassware and cloth napkins were the norm and meals were prepared on board. I've had some good meals on Amtrak's Empire Builder but they are a far cry from what one received in dining cars of years ago.
For those interested in this museum in Douglas, it's easy to find and there is signage along I-25, as well. It's free to the public and several of the railcars are often open for viewing. I discoverd the Great Northern sleeping car was closed on this visit and it is due to the extreme heat, for there is no operational ventilation within these cars and the cramped confines of the sleeper only aggravate the conditions.
The museum needs help, as well, if there are any parties that might take an interest. It is not a state-operated museum and the city does not seem to grasp the restoration and maintenance needs of these historical pieces. The locomotive has some serious issues (even for static display), the sleeping car has water leakage issues that are destroying the carpeting and much more within, the wood-framed caboose needs attention (actual window glass to prevent water issues, for example). These are all issues that have been brought up in the past but, sadly, the city simply hasn't addressed the vast majority. It's disheartening to see such a collection allowed to slowly detiorate, especially when one sees the efforts made by a few (the upholstery restoration in the coach is beautiful as are the efforts to set up the dining car tables with simple representative settings).
Tags: Douglas Converse County Wyoming WY Chicago Burlington & Quincy CB&Q railroad railroads railway railways historical fallen flag museum interpretive center Silver Salver dining car Budd #196 stainless steel BN Burlington Northern #1160 Zephyr retired 1972 Baldwin 4-8-4 #5633 tender steam locomotive retired 1956 class 0-5A Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center United States
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I took a brief trip from Casper to the Wind River Canyon this afternoon to scope out potential photo opportunities and lighting angles, the first time in the gorge when I wasn't driving a truck (one sees much when driving trucks but their very size, especially when usually transporting oversized loads, renders most scenes impossible to shoot). I halfway hoped I'd be lucky enough to capture one of the infrequent BNSF trains negotiating the canyon on the Casper Subdivision but I saw nothing moving between Casper and Thermopolis today. It was still a pleasant afternoon with temperatures in the lower 60's but still a few patches from the recent snow in the shaded nooks. (11-1-2020)
Tags: Thermopolis Hot Springs County Wyoming WY Wind River Canyon Wind River Bighorn River Bridger Mountains Owl Creek Mountains Wind River Reservation gorge rocky semi-arid rugged landscape landscapes United States
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Tags: autumn Fujinon Fujifilm Fuji X100v
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Tags: Fujinon Ontario Cornwall urban photography Fujifilm Fuji X100V
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