Every trip has a "must-have" shot. A scene that one looks at for a long time before they travel to a new location. Moab, Utah had been a place my wife and I have long wanted to visit with Arches and Canyonlands National Park nearby. Ever since I saw the Bootlegger Canyon shot that John Shine posted a few years back, I knew that when I went to Moab that scene would be my goal. I reached out to John who was nice enough to give me guidance on how to access the location. A somewhat challenging but beautiful hike is necessary to reach this off-the-beaten-path ledge on the opposite side of Bootlegger Canyon from Corona Arch. We planned the trip around being in Moab on Friday when the once-a-week "Potash Local" Union Pacific train LDG51B makes the trip down to the Intrepid Potash mine, a few miles South of this location.
In the early 1960s, The Rio Grande hired Morrison-Knudsen to build a branchline from Brendel, Utah to a potash mine South of Moab. The 35.77-mile line was completed in 1963. The scenery on the line's southern end is spectacular with red rock canyons and deep cuts. Further North on the line is also scenic as the train is dwarfed by the La Sal Mountains.
Arguably the most scenic place on the line is this location where the train has just exited the 7,050-foot Bootlegger Tunnel and is seen passing under Corona Arch. Thank you, John, I owe you one.
