Sixteen Mile Canyon, Montana on the Milwaukee Roads Pacific Coast Extension offered travelers and train crew personnel some of the most beautiful and fascinating scenery on the route. One of the most photographed locations was at Eagles Nest Tunnel (#4). Here, on the east side of the tunnel, the line crossed over 16 Mile Creek on a large steel trestle before immediately plunging into the tunnel. John W. Barriger III captured the large steel bridge from the end of the train as he sped westward into the tunnel during his mid-1930s trip (b&w). Did Barriger notice the Face in the Rock when he shot this moment? Can you see it? The side profile of a mans head:eye, nose and chin/mouth look north as the tracks/grade curve to the north. In 2012 the bridge, the wire supports and the Face in the Rock all remain, but the land is now privately owned and extremely difficult to secure permission to hike. In another time, another place.........
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 02:54:59 +0000