The Overland Tales
Chapter 9: Cuppy Draw
Yesterday afternoon Jimmy suggested we check out a location on the western slope of Aspen Mountain where we could photograph the steam train today. He found a spot on Google Maps that seemed to have promise and looked to be a bit of a dead-end for the chase: one way in, one way out. You could see the train there, but probably not get ahead of it before the next scheduled stop at Granger. That fit our game plan perfectly: try for one good spot rather than racing like idiots to get mediocre photos at multiple locations.
That’s why we are standing in the glorious Monday sunshine on a hill just west of Cuppy Draw overlooking the Union Pacific mainline. We’re parked with some of the TRAINS magazine crew and a few other folks along a goat trail. Judging by the charred wood, beer cans and animal pellets it seemed to be a multi-species party spot. And it is perfectly lit for the train.
The railroad along Stowe Creek does not follow the original 1860’s alignment. That route, the historic right of way of the transcontinental railroad, lays behind us to the south.
In the rush to complete the railroad, the Union Pacific engineering team not only looked for the easiest path through Uinta County, but the least expensive. Rather than dealing with Aspen Mountain head-on, the railroad wound around its south slope. Once the railroad was established as a success, the UP began working on a realignment which would tunnel through Aspen Mountain in 1901, eliminating both the original roundabout route and - by default - the town of Piedmont. Have you ever watched the TV series “Hell on Wheels?” That was Piedmont; a true railroad boom town.
That 1901 alignment is the one we have been staring at intently this morning, waiting for steam. I’m still staring. The train is a bit late and the number of chasers has been increasing steadily over the past few minutes. There’s plenty of room for cars, tripods and drone launches. I am in my spot, listening to the wind and - wait - a train! I can hear the low rumble of diesel locomotives growling up the Aspen grade. That’s not a good sign. Given that this ramble to Ogden and back is the Big Boy’s break-in run, I’ve had the quiet worry that at some point we might see #4014 relieved of duty. It’s a comfort to see a freight train roll into view.
I expect the steam train to closely follow the freight and by the light haze of smoke over the hill by Sheep Draw it seems I am right. As the magnificent train comes into view, I am burning pixels, swapping camera bodies and lenses like an old west gunfighter with six-shooters on each hip.
It’s a visual joy but not much of an aural experience. There’s enough horsepower between #4014, the second steam locomotive #844 and the diesel added for support that it would take 4x more train to make them work. It doesn’t matter. I am enthralled. This is what we came for, and it’s happening right in front of me.
On cue, before the middle of the train has passed by our perch, the railfan motorcade starts down the goat path ready to race back to the highway. I am not moving. The track is arrow straight through Cuppy Draw. My eyes are fixed on the spectacle before me and I am watching it until the last possible glimpse. It’s going to be awhile.
I am not worried about getting to the next photo location.
I am not worried about anything.
Read the entire ebook version with many additional photographs
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