July 2nd, while driving on US Route 12, about a dozen miles east of the Stevens Pass (Washington State), I spotted a BNSF freight train stopped on a siding. It seemed like a good photo op. It turned out that the freight was waiting for the eastbound AMTRAK Empire Builder passenger train. Some minutes later, the freight's siding signal changed to blinking yellow, the lead locomotive's lights went bright, diesel engines revved up, the horn gave two blasts, crossing gate bells rang as the gates came down, engine exhausts belched blue smoke and the train headed for the pass.
