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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:16 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Chasing Steel's Blog</title><subtitle>blog</subtitle><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/atom.xml"/><updated>2012-03-25T10:00:14Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>Unique Track Side Photo and Viewing Opportunity</title><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Eclipse"/><category term="Events"/><category term="FRA"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Map"/><category term="NASA"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Solar"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2012/3/25/unique-track-side-photo-and-viewing-opportunity.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2012/3/25/unique-track-side-photo-and-viewing-opportunity.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2012-03-25T10:00:13Z</published><updated>2012-03-25T10:00:13Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Now I am not an astromoner, nor a scienist, at any level so keep that in mind as read this post. I do, as does Deb, enjoy amatuer astronomy though and we try to follow or view most astronomical events as time permits. As such, there is an upcoming event that we are excited about along with the photgraphic possiblities that come along with it&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Cajon Pass Chase Map</title><category term="ArcGIS"/><category term="Cajon Pass"/><category term="Cajon Pass Railfan Map"/><category term="ESRI"/><category term="GIS"/><category term="Map"/><category term="PDF Maps"/><category term="Projects"/><category term="Railfan"/><category term="Railroad"/><category term="Reviews"/><category term="Technology"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2012/1/16/cajon-pass-chase-map.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2012/1/16/cajon-pass-chase-map.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2012-01-16T11:00:44Z</published><updated>2012-01-16T11:00:44Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[I have always had a huge interest in maps for as far back as I can remember. In all of my pursuits over the years, maps were either a necessary tool to accomplish the task at hand or an adjunct to augment the experience. As a child I had a massive aeronautical chart of Los Angeles hanging on my wall and I would study it for hours. Through that exercise I garnered an appreciation for distance and topography, as well as infrastructure and the historical aspects of the places listed before me. Soon maps became part of me and I would seek out and go to map stores like some kids would go to record stores or arcades&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>A Short Seasonal Sojourn to Siberia</title><category term="Amboy"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Bagdad"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Klondike"/><category term="Needles Subdivision"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Siberia"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2012/1/10/a-short-seasonal-sojourn-to-siberia.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2012/1/10/a-short-seasonal-sojourn-to-siberia.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2012-01-10T11:00:41Z</published><updated>2012-01-10T11:00:41Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Despite being on vacation for nearly two weeks during the Christmas holiday, I had yet to venture trackside at any capacity. My time was filled shopping for Christmas gifts, preparing the house for the holidays and entertaining our guests. Eventually Christmas came and went, followed closely by New Years, and, at last, my time had come. It was time to chase some steel before I had to return to work and I began to consider possible destinations&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Holiday Leftovers from LAUPT</title><category term="Amtrak"/><category term="LAUPT"/><category term="Los Angeles"/><category term="Projects"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="River Subdivision"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/12/30/holiday-leftovers-from-laupt.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/12/30/holiday-leftovers-from-laupt.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-12-30T11:00:53Z</published><updated>2011-12-30T11:00:53Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[As the lack of recents posts atest to, I have been crazy busy lately. Not only have I been working a ton to finish a large project by year&#8217;s end at the office, but the holidays are upon us and we are entertaining out-of-state guests for a few weeks. As if that wasn&#8217;t enough, I have also spent all of my spare time learning a unique subject that has always interested me. Soon I will prepare a post on the topic and the byproduct of all my research and learning&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>UP 844, a Mountain, a Mob, and Me</title><category term="844"/><category term="Cajon Pass"/><category term="Chase"/><category term="Events"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Locomotive"/><category term="Media"/><category term="Railfan"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Steam"/><category term="UP_Steam"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/11/24/up-844-a-mountain-a-mob-and-me.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/11/24/up-844-a-mountain-a-mob-and-me.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-11-25T05:30:37Z</published><updated>2011-11-25T05:30:37Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[As I described in in my previous post, &#8220;&#8221;UP&#8221; for a Chase? 844 Comes to California,&#8221; Union Pacific&#8217;s famous steam engine, the UP No. 844, is in California and garnering quite the attention in the process. On Saturday, November 19, 2011, the UP 844 lead the Centennial Tour train eastbound from West Colton, California to Yermo, California. The route the train was scheduled to take was over BNSF rails up and over the scenic and challenging Cajon Pass. It was the making of a perfect photo opportunity and I headed out early Saturday morning, almost dutifully, to get in position&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>"UP" for a Chase? 844 Comes to California</title><category term="844"/><category term="@UP_Steam"/><category term="Chase"/><category term="Cima Subdivision"/><category term="Events"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Locomotive"/><category term="Map"/><category term="News"/><category term="Railfan"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Steam"/><category term="Technology"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/11/17/up-for-a-chase-844-comes-to-california.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/11/17/up-for-a-chase-844-comes-to-california.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-11-17T14:01:14Z</published><updated>2011-11-17T14:01:14Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Today marks the beginning of the &#8220;return-trip&#8221; for Union Pacific&#8217;s &#8220;Living Legend,&#8221; No. 844, after participating in what Union Pacific dubbed the Centennial Tour to help New Mexico and Arizona celebrate their one-hundred years of statehood.

Union Pacific&#8217;s No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific, delivered in 1944, and will travel more than 2,900 miles from its base in Cheyenne, Wyoming during the 32-day, nine-state tour that will honor the rich railroad heritage of the scenic Southwest&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Union Pacific Leads the Way</title><category term="844"/><category term="@UP_Steam"/><category term="Centennial Tour"/><category term="Events"/><category term="Locomotive"/><category term="News"/><category term="Railfan"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Steam"/><category term="Technology"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/10/29/union-pacific-leads-the-way.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/10/29/union-pacific-leads-the-way.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-10-29T08:21:52Z</published><updated>2011-10-29T08:21:52Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Last night I settled in to my usual haunt, the easy chair in the front room, and perched upon my lap was my trusty Apple MacBook Pro. I had plans to research and craft a blog post that was long overdue. You see, the Union Pacific Railroad is embarking on a grand tour of the Southwest with one of their treasured and glorious steam engines replete with appropriate carriages of old in tow. The purpose of the event is best left described by a few passages from their press release&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Union Pacific's ICTF Family Days 2011</title><category term="2011"/><category term="Events"/><category term="Family Days"/><category term="ICTF"/><category term="News"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="UP 1996"/><category term="UP 7400"/><category term="Union Pacific Railroad"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/10/24/union-pacifics-ictf-family-days-2011.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/10/24/union-pacifics-ictf-family-days-2011.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-10-24T10:00:12Z</published><updated>2011-10-24T10:00:12Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[On Saturday, October 22, 2011, Union Pacific&#8217;s ICTF (Intermodal Container Transfer Facility) threw a party to honor the facility&#8217;s employees and their family members. It was also an opportunity to take off the hard hats and safety gear and just relax and enjoy good food and activities with other team members. The event was &#8220;ICTF Family Days 2011&#8221; and I was graciously extended and invitation to join in the fun and frivolity. So I cleared a couple of hours off of my busy schedule and headed towards the heart of the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor region&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Changing the World</title><category term="Apple"/><category term="Changing the World"/><category term="Editorial"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Steve Jobs"/><category term="Technology"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/10/10/changing-the-world.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/10/10/changing-the-world.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-10-10T10:00:26Z</published><updated>2011-10-10T10:00:26Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[I was stunned and shocked. I was seated on the floor of the trains &#8220;quiet car&#8221;, I boarded too late to get a seat, and I took a look around to see if other&#8217;s had received a similar message. Most of my fellow passengers were reading a book or already fast asleep, although there were a few others busily burying their faces in their mobile devices. I surfed the web for confirmation and quickly received it. I was devastated. I sent a text to my closest friends and a &#8220;tweet&#8221; as tears filled my eyes&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT: John Benner</title><category term="Editorial"/><category term="John Benner"/><category term="Photographer Spotlight"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Website"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/9/20/photographer-spotlight-john-benner.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/9/20/photographer-spotlight-john-benner.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-09-20T10:00:23Z</published><updated>2011-09-20T10:00:23Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Along the same vein as Travis Dewitz, John Benner captures truly compelling and inspiring photographs of modern railroads in action, complete with a sense of drama which &#8220;puts you there.&#8221; Here is John&#8217;s description of his passion from his web site at JohnBenner.com&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>BNSF Unveils a New Site for "Friends"</title><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Friends of BNSF"/><category term="Media"/><category term="New Web Site"/><category term="News"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Reviews"/><category term="Website"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/9/18/bnsf-unveils-a-new-site-for-friends.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/9/18/bnsf-unveils-a-new-site-for-friends.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-09-18T18:27:34Z</published><updated>2011-09-18T18:27:34Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[A few days ago BNSF unveiled a new web offering called &#8220;Friends of BNSF.&#8221;

According to John Ambler, BNSF vice president, Corporate Relations, 

    &#8220;Friends of BNSF will allow us to keep the community informed about issues that are important to freight rail transportation and its role in the U.S. economy. Rail fans, freight rail advocates, members of communities in which BNSF operates, and of course our employees and retirees are all welcome at Friends of BNSF.&#8221;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 14 - Heading Home</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="Athos"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Crozier Canyon"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Route 66"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Valentine"/><category term="Yampai Canyon"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/9/14/our-best-trip-ever-part-14-heading-home.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/9/14/our-best-trip-ever-part-14-heading-home.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-09-14T10:00:45Z</published><updated>2011-09-14T10:00:45Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After leaving Pica we headed towards Yampai. In an eastbound context, Yampai marks the end of the Yampai Canyon and from here BNSF’s trackage descend towards Pica and into Aubrey Valley for the run to Seligman. Yampai is rather remote yet offers some compelling opportunities, depending on local road and lighting conditions, so I wanted to try my luck there&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 13 - West Out of Seligman</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="Audley"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Pica"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Route 66"/><category term="Seligman"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/8/27/our-best-trip-ever-part-13-west-out-of-seligman.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/8/27/our-best-trip-ever-part-13-west-out-of-seligman.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-08-28T03:30:40Z</published><updated>2011-08-28T03:30:40Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After a nice and chilled evening at the Seligman/Route 66 KOA, we packed up the next morning and &#8220;prepared the cabin for departure.&#8221; After dumping our waste water and filling our propane tanks we headed out westbound on Route 66 through Seligman, Arizona. At this point we didn&#8217;t have any particular destination in mind. Rather, we knew the route we wanted to travel though. We wanted to stay on Route 66, which follows the BNSF&#8217;s Seligman Subdivision, as it meanders through some of the most beautiful scenery in northern Arizona. Interstate 40 takes a more direct and southernly route from Seligman directly to Kingman, Arizona. We were taking the road less traveled&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 12 - Seligman, Stackers, Sunset</title><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="KOA"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Route 66"/><category term="Seligman"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Sunset"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/8/14/our-best-trip-ever-part-12-seligman-stackers-sunset.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/8/14/our-best-trip-ever-part-12-seligman-stackers-sunset.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-08-14T21:00:19Z</published><updated>2011-08-14T21:00:19Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Having had a great time exploring the &#8220;back country&#8221; of BNSF&#8217;s Seligman Subdivision, and truthfully a little dogged out from the rough roads, I was content to head towards Selgiman for the night. We had spent some time there on previous trips but we only used Seligman as a base for operations and we never really spent time photographing the area. I knew there were some nice spots with a lot of potential so we left Crookton and drove the few miles west to Seligman to get a spot for the night&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 11 - On the Cut-Off</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Beale Wagon Road"/><category term="Crookton"/><category term="Crookton Cut-Off"/><category term="Eagle Nest Mountain"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Kaibab National Forest"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Sandstone Tank"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/8/6/our-best-trip-ever-part-11-on-the-cut-off.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/8/6/our-best-trip-ever-part-11-on-the-cut-off.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-08-06T10:00:07Z</published><updated>2011-08-06T10:00:07Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Despite my fears of a big cat looking for dinner, we slept well, deep in the heart of Kaibab National Forest. After I awoke and as I made a quick walk around the area where we camped, surveying for animal tracks as much as looking for a good shot, I thought of the today&#8217;s plan. We are now fairly far removed from all the trappings of a modern society. &#8220;No billboards, no buildings, no graffiti, no power lines &#8212; nothing to spoil a scene,&#8221; I pondered&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 10 - Heading into the Unknown</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Crookton Cut-Off"/><category term="East DoubleA"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Mossberg"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Superior Propane  Inc."/><category term="West DoubleA"/><category term="Williams"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/30/our-best-trip-ever-part-10-heading-into-the-unknown.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/30/our-best-trip-ever-part-10-heading-into-the-unknown.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-07-30T10:00:43Z</published><updated>2011-07-30T10:00:43Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After the shoot at CP Chalendar, I grew concerned, not so much about the distance we needed to travel today, but rather the uncertain condition of the roads and the general accessibility of the area that laid ahead in our travels along BNSF&#8217;s Seligman Subdivision. According to my original plans we were due to spend the day shooting the area around Eagle Nest and Double A. Since we were not even near Double A yet, I felt tense because that meant something must give in our schedule. I preferred it to be those areas we had visited before so we headed west on I-40 towards Williams, Arizona to try to get back on schedule&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 9 - A Few Favorite Locations</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Bellemont"/><category term="Chalendar"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Maine"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/24/our-best-trip-ever-part-9-a-few-favorite-locations.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/24/our-best-trip-ever-part-9-a-few-favorite-locations.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-07-24T10:00:15Z</published><updated>2011-07-24T10:00:15Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After the wonderful visit to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and the opportunity to do some night viewing through one of their historic telescopes, the day&#8217;s events and excitement had left us with little energy to do much else. So after leaving the observatory we headed west on I-40 in search of a place to park for the night. We opted to just spend the night at the Pilot Travel Center at Bellemont, Arizona. This seemed as good of a place as any as it afforded us a chance to top off the tanks and do some shopping to augment our stores. No time for a traditional dinner tonight so we just grabbed some McDonalds and called it a night&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 8 - Flagstaff Area</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Flagstaff"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Lowell Observatory"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/16/our-best-trip-ever-part-8-flagstaff-area.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/16/our-best-trip-ever-part-8-flagstaff-area.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-07-16T10:00:28Z</published><updated>2011-07-16T10:00:28Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[When I set out planning this trip I looked for activities that Deb would enjoy. Next to hanging out with me track side, shooting photographs of passing trains ad nauseam, one of her true passions is astronomy. Fortunately, Flagstaff is home to an historic and working observatory. That observatory, the Lowell Observatory, became one of the surprise side trips that I planned especially for Deb&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 7 - Chasing From Winslow to Flagstaff</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Cosnino"/><category term="Flagstaff"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Sunshine"/><category term="Winona"/><category term="Winslow"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/9/our-best-trip-ever-part-7-chasing-from-winslow-to-flagstaff.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/9/our-best-trip-ever-part-7-chasing-from-winslow-to-flagstaff.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-07-09T20:00:09Z</published><updated>2011-07-09T20:00:09Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[It had been a glorious two days hanging out at the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona but it was time to leave. In part because our reservations expired and, equally important, because we came to see BNSF&#8217;s Seligman Subdivision. The last two days were the perfect starter course for this vacation and we now felt calm and relaxed &#8212; ready to enjoy what laid ahead&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 6 - More Chasing at the La Posada Hotel</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="La Posada"/><category term="Maps"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Turquoise Room"/><category term="Winslow"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/2/our-best-trip-ever-part-6-more-chasing-at-the-la-posada-hote.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/7/2/our-best-trip-ever-part-6-more-chasing-at-the-la-posada-hote.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-07-03T01:40:11Z</published><updated>2011-07-03T01:40:11Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After a nice and luxurious night’s rest at the La Posada Hotel, Deb and I awoke mid-morning to the unmistakeable sound of General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division prime movers of the yesteryear. After getting cleaned up, we decided to grab breakfast in the camper before we started the day&#8230;]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 5 - Chasing at the La Posada Hotel</title><category term="Amtrak"/><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="La Posada"/><category term="Loram"/><category term="Rail Grinder"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Southwest Chief"/><category term="Winslow"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/6/21/our-best-trip-ever-part-5-chasing-at-the-la-posada-hotel.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/6/21/our-best-trip-ever-part-5-chasing-at-the-la-posada-hotel.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-06-21T10:00:02Z</published><updated>2011-06-21T10:00:02Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[From a railfan&#8217;s perspective, the La Posada Hotel is blessed with a plethora of both, mainline trackage and plenty of traffic, that form the southern border of the property. Considering the hotel&#8217;s history, a place for weary travelers of the Santa Fe Railway Company to get some rest and good eats, this is by design. As such, the grounds provide a welcome sign of sorts admist the parch and arid landscape in this part of northern Arizona. Butted up against the platforms of the Winslow Amtrak station, a semi-circular brick plaza morphs into a walkway that leads directly to a portico and the lobby of the hotel. Today, as it was then, this area serves as fantastic train watching vantage point complete with wood rocking chairs for the guests to rock their cares away as they watch the parade of trains, from all points east and west, go by&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 4 - A Railfan Oasis, The La Posada Hotel</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="La Posada"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Winslow"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/6/15/our-best-trip-ever-part-4-a-railfan-oasis-the-la-posada-hote.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/6/15/our-best-trip-ever-part-4-a-railfan-oasis-the-la-posada-hote.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-06-15T10:00:41Z</published><updated>2011-06-15T10:00:41Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[There are some, but not many, places that offer a spectacular railroad viewing opportunity coupled with truly refreshing and luxurious accommodations track side. Our favorite, to date, is located in Winslow, Arizona and it is truly an oasis for railfans and travelers alike. It is the La Posada Hotel , a National Historic Landmark, and billed as &#8220;Arizona&#8217;s grandest estate&#8230;&#8221;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 3 - The Run East Continues</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Winona"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/6/8/our-best-trip-ever-part-3-the-run-east-continues.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/6/8/our-best-trip-ever-part-3-the-run-east-continues.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-06-08T10:00:05Z</published><updated>2011-06-08T10:00:05Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[The Townsend Winona Road overpass provides a nice vantage point to take in the action of BNSF trains as they transit the area near Winona, Arizona. Looking west, most of the elements that comprise an interesting composition, at least for me, can be found from the overpass — sweeping curves, a discernible grade, a distant view, and a nice, mountainous backdrop. The view from the eastern side of the overpass is less spectacular but similar&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 2 - The Run East</title><category term="Arizona"/><category term="BNSF"/><category term="Darling"/><category term="Flagstaff"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Winona"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/5/31/our-best-trip-ever-part-2-the-run-east.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/5/31/our-best-trip-ever-part-2-the-run-east.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-05-31T10:00:20Z</published><updated>2011-05-31T10:00:20Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[On Saturday morning, with great anticipation and eagerness, I loaded the final pieces of gear into the truck and the perishables into the camper&#8217;s fridge. I have learned over the years that it seems something always comes up at the last minute as we prepare to depart, especially when it involves more that a weekend road trip, so I packed some flex-time into the first day of our trip. Good thing too because we needed it&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Our Best Trip Ever - Part 1 - The Planning</title><category term="BNSF"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="La Posada"/><category term="Maps"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Seligman Subdivision"/><category term="Technology"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/5/24/our-best-trip-ever-part-1-the-planning.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/5/24/our-best-trip-ever-part-1-the-planning.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-05-24T10:00:05Z</published><updated>2011-05-24T10:00:05Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[It had been just under five years since Deb and I ventured east to one of our favorite locations in the west, the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, and BNSF&#8217;s Seligman Subdivision. After completing a major project at work, I felt the need to take a respite so, in early April, Deb and I made plans to head east&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Living, Barely - Cima Sub Shots - Part 5 of 5</title><category term="Cima"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="HDR"/><category term="Mojave National Preserve"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/25/living-barely-cima-sub-shots-part-5-of-5.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/25/living-barely-cima-sub-shots-part-5-of-5.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-03-25T10:00:48Z</published><updated>2011-03-25T10:00:48Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After the day&#8217;s events and considering I was content with the shots I had taken already, I decided to head home. As I left the Ivanpah, California grade crossing, I knew of two trains on the normally sparsely populated Cima Subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad. One was the eastbound vehicle train that kept me company while we both waited for the westbound manifest train at Ivanpah. The vehicle train was now well on its way to Nipton, California and east towards Las Vegas, Nevada. The manifest train was out in front of me somewhere between Ivanpah and Kelso, California by now&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Living Lucky - Cima Sub Shots - Part 4 of 5</title><category term="Cima Subdivision"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="HDR"/><category term="Ivanpah"/><category term="Mojave National Preserve"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/22/living-lucky-cima-sub-shots-part-4-of-5.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/22/living-lucky-cima-sub-shots-part-4-of-5.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-03-22T10:08:09Z</published><updated>2011-03-22T10:08:09Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Up until this point my truck was soldiering on, doing it&#8217;s climbing the mountain thing when came that point that most, if not all, four-wheelers have felt at some time or another. My truck had lost the forward progress and it started to wiggle and began a worrisome and very discernible slide towards the right side of the road. &#8220;Shit, sand,&#8221; I exclaimed. Normally I would not want to stop my truck at this point because any forward progress works in my favor to get beyond whatever sand trap I might be in. However, my forward progress had ceased and I worried about the sideways slide that my truck was in. I stomped on the brakes&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Living Large - Cima Sub Shots - Part 3 of 5</title><category term="Cima Subdivision"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="HDR"/><category term="Ivanpah"/><category term="Mojave National Preserve"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/20/living-large-cima-sub-shots-part-3-of-5.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/20/living-large-cima-sub-shots-part-3-of-5.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-03-20T10:00:13Z</published><updated>2011-03-20T10:00:13Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[Eventually my frozen fingers thawed and I proceeded along my route towards Ivanpah, CA. I would have to go through Cima, CA in the process and I thought perhaps I should stop for the night and tackle Ivanpah in the morning with fresh light and fresh legs&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Down at the Depot - Cima Sub Shots - Part 2 of 5</title><category term="Cima Subdivision"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="HDR"/><category term="Kelso"/><category term="Mojave National Preserve"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/17/down-at-the-depot-cima-sub-shots-part-2-of-5.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/17/down-at-the-depot-cima-sub-shots-part-2-of-5.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-03-17T10:00:29Z</published><updated>2011-03-17T10:00:29Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[After getting my fill of grade crossing shots and as the sun sank below the horizon I turned my attention to the Kelso Depot. It was past closing time so I had the exterior of the depot and it&#8217;s grounds all to myself which is nice because it came be a quite busy place during the day considering it&#8217;s remote location&#8230;
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Better Late Than Never - Cima Sub Shots - Part 1 of 5</title><category term="Cima Subdivision"/><category term="General Photography"/><category term="HDR"/><category term="Kelso"/><category term="Mojave National Preserve"/><category term="Railroad Photography"/><category term="Ramblings and Such"/><category term="Union Pacific"/><id>http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/13/better-late-than-never-cima-sub-shots-part-1-of-5.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.chasingsteel.com/blog/2011/3/13/better-late-than-never-cima-sub-shots-part-1-of-5.html"/><author><name>Joe Perry</name></author><published>2011-03-13T11:00:42Z</published><updated>2011-03-13T11:00:42Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[It was the Sunday before President&#8217;s Day and I had hoped to arrive mid-afternoon with plenty of time to find a nice spot to set-up camp. I know that I am getting older because I just don&#8217;t do things as fast as I once did - especially when it comes to physical chores such as prepping the camper and the truck for a trip. I left later than I wanted so I had to adapt my plans accordingly. My destination was the Union Pacific&#8217;s Cima Subdivision. In particular, I was targetting the area around Cima itself. By my calculations, if I hustled, and drove straight through, I might be able to catch some good light at the Kelso Depot. I headed out in haste&#8230;
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