Stege Pass in the Morning

I’ve always liked the horizontal light in the morning for taking pictures.

This shot gives a good view of the pronounced dip in the Harbor Lead rails near 34th Street located beyond the rail cars in the distance.

I have occasionally heard this grade jokingly referred to as Stege Pass which would include the steeply inclined track on the east side of Stege Wye which connects the track in the foreground to the UP Waterside Drill track. The grades here may be steep but they are quite short and don’t seem to cause trains any problem. Even when the coal job is in town, the RPRC simply pairs up their switchers to provide extra muscle.

It ain’t a famous mountain pass but it is close to home!

- Steve