Union Pacific 7397 passing Indio - 9 November 2015

If you have not seen a double-stack train in motion and you have any interest in North American railways, then you have a treat in store for your first time. If you have not seen such a train at speed then I suggest you book your plane ticket now. I have frequently seen these formations further west in the Coachella Valley and beyond (in particular between Cabazon and Palm Springs) where they are usually moving much more slowly or even stationary at signal checks.

On a visit to Indio, CA I was photographing stationary stock when this eastbound train, led by Union Pacific GE ES44AC 7397, approached at considerable speed. You can only just see the beginning of the extremely long consist but I was able to release the shutter just as 7397 was framed by an overbridge. It was a long but happy wait for the next photograph (in this photostream) which could hardly be more different and still rail-related.

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