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The US 197 Highway Bridge is the only US Highway we would go under in the Deschutes River Canyon. We have climbed 900 feet from the crossing of the Colombia River.
South of Maupin.
Interesting rock formations.
The rear of our train as we continued to climb.
More views of the Deschutes River Canyon.
The SP 4449 exited the next tunnel in the canyon.
The views continue to change as we roll south.
The Dixon siding at MP 71 as we traveled on the way to Bend.
The Deschutes River Canyon betwwen Dixon and North Junction.
Crossing the Deschutes just before North Junction.
The SP 4449 passed through yet another tunnel.
More interesting rock formations.
Fields at South Junction.
At South Junction we turn east to follow Trout Creek and left the Deschutes River.
Crossing the 390 foot long Trout Creek Bridge.
The SP 4449 continued to climb out of the Trout Creek Canyon.
The SP 4449 has climbed all the way out of Trout Creek Canyon and highballed through Gateway and rolled onto Madras.
The SP 4449 than ran over the 970 foot long and 200 foot high Willow Creek Trestle.
The Willow Creek Trestle as seen from a driving trip at the Portland 2005 NRHS Convention.
Crossing the Willow Creek Trestle.
The old Great Northern Station at Metolius which has been moved away from the BNSF line.
The Chasers provided us with good entertainment as we continued south towards Bend.
Looking back near Opal City.
The SP 4449 next crossed the Crooked River Bridge, a 340 foot long truss span which is 320 feet above the river.
Crooked River Bridge.
The old highway bridge over the Crooked River.
Smith Rock, popular with rock climbers.
A couple of more views of Smith Rock after we had passed through Terrebonne.
The Crooked River Dinner Train was getting ready to depart for Prineville as the SP 4449 blasted through Prineville Jct. We ran south through Redmond but had to take the siding and sit waiting on a BNSF local to head north at Deschutes. Once it had cleared we headed on into Bend where we passed the BNSF Station and wye before we backed into a yard track for the night. We all detrained and would have to find the shuttle buses that would take us to the right motels in Bend. It had been a fantastic trip to Bend behind the Southern Pacific 4449 and now it was time for a nice dinner and a hot shower.
Bend, Oregon 9/16/06I detrained once Chris had returned then waited with the group of passengers waiting for the bus to return from taking the first group to the Hampton Inn.
Passengers for the Hampton Inn like me waited in the dark. The bus then returned and took us to the Hampton Inn out in the north end of Bend. Chris and I received the key to Room 148 and we deposited our bags in our room. We walked to the Riverfront Crossing, "the Best Steakhouse in Bend". There I had a Filet Mignon that took care of my hunger. We returned to the Hampton Inn for the night. It had been a great day behind the SP 4449 and we get to do it all again tomorrow. Does it get any better than this?
