On the morning of October 13th I picked up friends and fellow photographers Chuck Garrett and Steve Crise and we headed out to catch UP 4014 leaving Fort Worth for Oklahoma. Originally they were scheduled to go north utilizing Choctaw Main One passing Tower 60, and I knew of two locations that would have perfect lighting as the train left town. But suddenly that was changed to Choctaw Main Two the old M-K-T/MP main and we had to relocate to a not quite as good spot at Hodge Siding. Steve and Chuck composed different scenes and I worked with a cluster of sunflowers as the train passed us at 9:05 am.




The three of us decided we did not want to fight the chase traffic to get through Denton and head up Highway 377 to Whitesboro. Instead we would go north in I35W and then east on US 82 and find a spot northeast of Sadler for a second and final run by. We did not want to go any further due to Sherman-Denison highway traffic and the fact the train would be backlit all the way to McAlester after it turned due north at Denison.
As we were searching for an ideal location, we came across a southbound UP freight taking the siding at Sadler.

Not long afterwards we found our desired spot at the Lawrence Road dirt crossing about two miles east of the east end of Sadler Siding. Several other photographers were already there and everyone worked together as to where they wanted to stand. At 12:27 pm the UP 4014 came past our location in good light. I made two digital exposures with my Canon 24-105 mm L zoom; one at full zoom and a second at wide angle.


So now after five days the Big Boy was gone from my life, until the next time that is! Chuck, Steve and I drove leisurely back to Gainesville where we had a late lunch. Afterwards we stopped by the depot area where we caught two BNSF northbounds.


My friends had never been exposed to the Wabtec locomotive factory in far north Fort Worth, so we went back that way for a visit. Nothing was moving, but we did get a few photos from the shoulder of FM 157.




I dropped the guys off after unanimous agreement that we has a great time!