My first visit to the Feather River Canyon ended up being quite successful, which was a nice mood boost after a less-than-stellar visit to the Shasta Route. I spent most of my time near the upper end of the canyon around Keddie, so on my third and final day in the FRC, I decided that if I found a westbound heading down into the canyon in the early afternoon, I'd follow it all the way out to Oroville. Luck was on my side when a midday BNSF freight got delayed by track work, setting it up for a nonstop run down the canyon in spectacular afternoon light under a crystal clear sky. Having noticed how long the train was, I made sure to leave time for a shot from the spectacular overlook between Pulga and Poe. At 5:30 P.M., the 6,700 foot, 98 car train is seen simultaneously traversing Tunnels 11, 10, and 9 as it twists through the final miles of track in the scenic Feather River Canyon. This train ended up being the perfect length for this angle, with the DPU's having just come into view in the distance, about to enter Tunnel 11. I'm glad I jumped on the chance at this shot, as a UP freight that had been following close behind ended up triggering a detector near Pulga, sending the conductor walking back over a mile; that train would not reach this spot until long after the shadows had filled the canyon.
