Over these 150 images of railroading’s modern history for 2021, a broad sample of train engine power seen along Washington state’s highway 395 from Pasco to Connell is spiced up with some rolling stock / railroad cars, and daily observations to accompany each picture yielding monthly tastes of the changing seasons and rail activity.Special attention is given to that venerable hotbed of modernism, Connell (I almost said that with a straight face); plus an off-the-beaten path trip into BNSF’s east Pasco trackage and side trips down the Columbia River Gorge and Vancouver, WA to Burlington Northern - Santa Fe’s Vancouver Center.Rants, rallying cries, and rail lore is sprinkled throughout to give a semi-rounded (or at least adequately lopsided) view of railroad history in the making with hundreds of locomotives making the point (even if it seems heavy on the pumpkin orange (BNSF) at times.)Exciting spurs off the main track include a Steamy Chapter with a couple guest photographers steaming up the lens with a hot story through the center of the United States of America. Other sections diverge and merge back again with exciting news and world events as they impact the rail industry.So whether there’s a need for a virtual vacation while in another lockdown (or locked in due to work, school, military duty, or serving one’s time due to a multitude of other reasons - where some might feel right at home seeing Coyote Ridge Correctional Facility on the ridge in several shots) or getting the feel for what real railroads look like in this slice of history for the scale model railroader, there should be - or at least could be - something in here for everyone.
