Rob's Photo Portfolio

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Union Pacific Challenger 3985:

The Union Pacific Challenger 3985 pulls the Portland Rose Excursion train in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Denver-Portland passenger route. This photograph was taken September 18, 1995, near Soda Springs Idaho. Estimated speed: 55 mph.

At over 1 million pounds, Challenger 3985 is the world's larges operating steam locomotive. It was designed by the Union Pacific and built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). It is one of 105 Challengers built for the Union Pacific between 1936 and 1943 and is the only operating engine of it's class in the world today.

With a top speed of 70 mph and a driver diameter of 69 inches, the Challengers were designed for fast freight service, but occasionally saw duty at the head of passenger trains

At the conclusion of the Portland Rose Excursion, the 3985 returned to the Cheyenne Wyoming roundhouse for a complete restoration, which is expected to take five years. Union Pacific's 844, freshly restored after a five year restoration in the backshop, will replace the 3985 on excursion duties.

Wet Spring on the West Bench:

An unusually wet and cool June produces the once in a decade spectacle of wild flowers on the usually arid West Bench north of Dillon.

The tall grass in the left fore ground is Needle-and-Thread Grass, aptly names for it's sharp, barbed seed with a long spiralling "thread" attached.

The Prickly Pear Cactus' yellow flowers and the orange flowers of the Scarlet Globemallow rush to flower and produce seed before summer's hot, drying winds arrive to plunder the remaining moisture.

Surrounded by un-irrigated ground, two swathers work on the first of two cuttings of hay on the irrigated alfalfa fields.

The snow capped East Pioneers (center) and the infamous Rattle Snake Ridge (right) are dwarfed by the famous Montana Big Sky.

Cabin at Trapper City:

Trapper City is the site of the earliest town site in the Hecla mining district when silver was initially discovered there in 1872.

The earliest ore shipments were hauled by ox-team to the Central Pacific RR in Corrine Utah, then by rail to San Francisco, and loaded into boats for shipment to smelters in Swansea, Wales. Early assays showed 140 ounces of silver per ton ore, and 30-60% lead. More than $15 million in silver and lead was mined from the Hecla district between 1873 and 1912.

At it's peak, 5000 people lived and worked the areas of Hecla, Glendale, Vipond, and the Highlands. Glendale, once a community of 1000, was the site of a 40 ton lead smelter 10 miles down the valley, and was once entered in the race to be the state capital.

Today, only the decaying buildings of a ghost town remain.

Vipond Park Wildflowers:

In early July, Vipond Park is covered with a carpet of wildflowers. Canyon Creek lays in the canyon beyond the meadow. At around 10,000 feet, the snow capped peaks of Cleve, Sheriff, and Lion Mountains reach towards the clouds.

Over the hill to the south from Canyon Creek, is the Hecla mining district and to the north, the Quartz Hill mining district. Quartz Hill in the Vipond mining district flourished from 1878-1889 with a 100 stamp mill.

The Vipond is part of the area that fed the silver and lead smelter at Glendale with ore and wood for the beehive charcoal kilns in Canyon Creek.

Trapper Creek Cascade:

Melting snow feeds Trapper Creek as it tumbles through the boulders on the way to its confluence with the Big Hole River near Melrose.

Trapper City was the site of the original town location in the Hecla District and the town's population probably never exceeded 200. Trapper City was abandonded when new mines were started at Lion City.

Glendale was the smelter location for the Hecla Mining Company. At one time, Glendale's population was 4000, and was much larger than Dillon. After loosing a fight with Dillon for the county seat, area residents developed a plan to have the territorial capital moved to Glendale. The silver crash brought much of the town to a halt, as well as Glendale's plans to be the state capital.

Lion Mountain and Lion City is the area where a prospector was frightened by what he thought was a mountain lion, but later turned out to be a grazing white mule.

Carpinteria Sunset:

It was a beautiful evening when I took this photo. The winds were calm and the evening warm. As the sun slowly sinks into the ocean, it turns the waves, beach and sky into a beautiful warm orange color.

Carpinteria, California is a small town about 30 minutes south of Santa Barbara. It is renowned for its sunsets, tranquility and Dutch flower growers.

Missouri River Sunset:

Midwest sunsets are said to be some of the most beautiful. Here the setting sun turns the sky in to a glowing ember over the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota. The full color of the sunset lasted only minutes. It was breath taking to experience in person.