Fire & Ice. This image was captured only three months after the devastating Camp Fire tore through the mountains of Eastern Butte County. A cold winter storm had snow-capped the now blackened hills above Pulga, California. The frigid runoff could be seen cascading down the steep rocky cliffs into the mighty Feather River. Throughout these extreme weather events, railroaders kept on working. Train crews staffed fire trains to help protect the railroad. Maintenance of way workers repaired damaged infrastructure. Signalman ensured the communication networks kept on running. And bronco escorts helped safely guide trains through these heavily impacted areas. Working through some of the worst natural disasters imaginable, railroaders ensure the lifeblood of the American economy keeps on moving. In this shot, a westbound BNSF train follows the Feather River through Pulga, on the freezing afternoon of February 17th, 2019.
