Sam and I woke up from a restful night in Consul, Saskatchewan. The first order of the day, after breakfast, was to cross the border into Montana. Our border crossing was remote and opened at 0900. We were about fifteen minutes early so we waited and took a few photographs at the border. After explaining the convoluted rental situation we were allowed into the United States and off we went. The next few days were purely railway and scenery oriented.
The first train of the day would be met in Burnham, Montana.
- 1029 MDT Burnham, MT - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 5413-BNSF 4012-BNSF 8633-BNSF 4441 (photo)
We continued west on Route 2 and saw headlights approaching. It was the Empire Builder.
- 1140 MDT Dunkirk, MT - AMTK 8 east "Empire Builder" - AMTK 206-AMTK 146 (photo)
In Shelby we found two parked power sets.
- 1206 MDT Shelby, MT - BNSF power - BNSF 2349-BNSF 2881 (photo)
- 1211 MDT Shelby, MT - BNSF power - BNSF 880-BNSF 5155 (photo)
From Shelby we started into the mountains and stopped at the
Izaak Walton Inn at Essex, Montana. Originally we were going to try to spend the night there but the timing of our trip didn't work out quite right. Another time. We hiked up to the footbridge over the tracks and waited a while but no trains showed up. Getting a little impatient we moved on and caught up to a westbound intermodal train at Pinnacle. Apparently we just missed it at Essex. Bummer.
- 1503 MDT Pinnacle, MT - BNSF westbound - BNSF 4833-BNSF 4971-BNSF 5240
Since the train was headed the same way we were we gave chase and photographed it a few more times.
- 1518 MDT Nyack, MT - BNSF westbound - BNSF 4833-BNSF 4971-BNSF 5240 (photo)
- 1524 MDT east of West Glacier, MT - BNSF westbound - BNSF 4833-BNSF 4971-BNSF 5240
- 1607 MDT Whitefish, MT - BNSF westbound - BNSF 4833-BNSF 4971-BNSF 5240 (photo)
At Whitefish we left the tracks for a while because Route 2 diverges from the main line. Having not heard very much we drove all the way to Sandpoint, Idaho. We were exploring town a little and before long heard on the scanner that an eastbound was on its way. Perfect! This was my third visit to Sandpoint and the other two times I'd been hosed on photographing trains on the bridge over Lake Pend Oreille. This was the reverse vantage point from what I really want, but I'd take it.
- 1905 PDT Sandpoint, ID - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 9895-BNSF 9570/BNSF 9175 (photo)
Finally! The photograph looked great so it made an excellent cap to the day. The light was waning and I hadn't heard any more trains in the area so we found a place to stay for the evening and some food.
