Today August 26th 2019 marks the end of an era that started in 1973 with the construction of the 50,000 Volt electrified Black Mesa and Lake Powell Railroad. Before 0700 local time the last load of black diamonds from the Pea Body mine in Kayenta arrived into the Navajo Generating Station outside Page AZ for one last time for a bitter sweet ending. A family and friend event was held this morning at the power plant for the workers of the railroad and power plant with the original E60 6006 on display as well as the ex-NdeM EA036. I had a chance to get to know a few of the crews while on a insane 4200 mile trip that only included New Mexico and Arizona. I only spent 3 days chasing the BMLP and bsing with the crews and they all said the same thing, it was the best job they ever had and were sad to see it coming to an end but at the same time were very grateful that SRP guaranteed all the employees of the railroad and power plant new positions as the shut down of NGS progresses.
Over the next few weeks I will be posting my photos from this trip but I figured this one was appropriate. Here 24000HP of E60's power 85 empty coal buckets east around the very well known Cow Springs curve as they head for the tipple for another load of coal, this was the last evening I would ever shoot the BMLP and it was one I will remember. With the texture of the sky, the amazing orange sunsets due to the forest fires that were taking place near the Grand Canyon, the silent glide of the the train rolling by with only the occasional flat spot or the little twinkle of sparks coming from the pantographs above the E60's. It will be a trip I will always remember and I want to thank the employees for making it a great trip.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
