March 17th was another day of firsts.  First Modoc Northern train running to Lakeview Oregon, first time a GE locomotive has ever been on the Lake County Railroad, and first time I've ever "chased" a train that ran 10 miles per hour for almost 6 hours!

The reason the Modoc Northern ventured up the Lake County Railroad had to do with the LCR's own locomotives needing repair.  No trains had come down from Lakeview to Alturas in over a week.  Lakeview's largest shipper, Cornerstone Industrial Minerals Corporation, had filled all the available covered hoppers that had been left for them when the last LCRR train had run, and they had no more room to stockpile their product (perlite) and had had to lay off workers.  They were getting desperate for empty cars.

I was able to take the day off and photograph the train at various locations along the Lake County Railroad.  The lighting wasn't the best; this line would be much better lit for shooting southbound trains, but I think the pics came out okay despite the sun and snow!

The power and caboose had tied up in Alturas Yard the previous evening

Photo # 3-17-06-1202

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