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If a westbound train left Chicago…

…for Emeryville, CA and an eastbound train left Emeryville, CA for Chicago, when would they pass each other?

Good question. Tonight both of them are stuck in the Sierra, the rails blocked by a large snowplow that fell through a walkway and blocked the tracks. The westbound Amtrak train is in Truckee and being hauled back to Reno to hotel rooms for the travelers. The eastbound Amtrak train is not so lucky – the train is stuck in Gold Run, CA and going nowhere – at least it has heat. True to form, the passengers on the westbound train, who are going to have hotel rooms, were surly and whining when interviewed. The passengers on the eastbound train, who were *truly* stuck, were smiling for the onboard cameras, and it looked like a party atmosphere.

What was the quote from Woodstock? “There is always a bit of heaven in a disaster area.”

So which is the reality? Folks were traveling by train in the mountains in winter. It has rained for each of the last 13 days in the Bay Area – not all day, just some rain each day. When these rains hit the mountains, it means snow, often HEAVY snow. Which folks are dealing with reality, and which are in denial? Which are getting more out of life?

Union Pacific is bringing in a crane to clear the large snowplow. The tracks are expected to be open by 4 AM Saturday morning, Pacific Time. The folks on the westbound train are probably checking their watches and trying to call their lawyers (good luck with cell phones in the Sierra, BTW). :-) The folks on the eastbound train may not even notice the time.

Be careful when traveling through California’s mountains in winter. Leave sufficient information with others and take sufficient supplies. Be prepared.

And try to keep your head in reality and your sense of humor with you, just in case….

-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo  

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